8 patients. Infection Infection control measures were Infection control measures recommended prevention and strengthened at healthcare institutions, by the US Centers for Disease Control to control including strict visitor controls, cohorting healthcare institutes included limiting points of patients with pneumonia or respiratory of entry to facilities, prioritizing triage of infection, and maintenance of strict patients with respiratory symptoms, infection control practices across all exploring alternatives to face-to-face triage, settings. Inter-institution movement of limiting visitor access and movement within patients and doctors was limited. facility, and managing exposed healthcare Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/jtm/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/jtm/taaa039/5804843 by guest on 22 March 2020 9 workers . Healthcare Over 800 Public Health Preparedness Australia and China set up “fever clinics” to services Clinics (PHPCs) were activated to enhance assess large volume of people for COVID-19 management of respiratory infections in while minimizing risk of transmission to the primary care setting, with subsidies other patients. extended to Singapore residents. Designated Majority of cases were isolated and While most countries managed their cases in hospital treated at the National Centre for existing hospitals, China established at least Infectious Diseases (NCID), a 330-bed 14 temporary medical facilities designated purpose built infectious diseases to treat COVID-19 patients. Two new management facility. hospitals with at least 1,000 beds each were also built in Wuhan city. Border control measures Temperature Temperature and health screening for Countries including China are conducting screening inbound travelers is being conducted at all temperature screening of incoming land, air, and sea checkpoints. passengers at air, land and sea checkpoints. Travel advisories Singaporeans are advised to defer non- At least 45 countries or regions issued & border essential travel to mainland China, ROK, partial or complete travel bans on mainland restrictions Northern Italy and Iran, and entry China, Iran, Italy, ROK or other countries. restrictions are imposed on visitors from these regions. Returning residents with travel history to these areas are subject to a 14-day quarantine. Community and social measures Schools Schools have remained open, but Country/region-wide school closures were implemented precautionary measures announced in Albania, Bulgaria, Iran, Iraq, such as reduction of mass assemblies, Italy, Japan, mainland China, Hong Kong, inter-class and inter-school activities, and Saudi Arabia, Spain and ROK. staggered meal times. Workplaces Employees are encouraged to monitor Hong Kong’s Centre for Health Protection their temperature and health regularly, encouraged companies to develop and institutions are encouraged to step up comprehensive policies that include their business continuity plans, such as business continuity and operational plans to 10 telecommuting where possible and having maintain core services . In US, employers segregated teams. were recommended to develop contingency plans for situations that may arise during 11 outbreaks . Public Public education was done through Most countries delivered public-service communications traditional print and broadcast media, as announcements promoting social well as social media. Public are advised to responsibility and set up telephone hotlines practise social responsibility while life for public enquiries. In mainland China, continues as usual with precautions. several provinces mandated mask wearing in Misinformation is debunked and clarified public spaces. on a government website. Lockdown of No areas have been locked down to date. Massive lockdowns were reported in affected areas mainland China, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, and Italy. Smaller scale lockdowns were reported