COVID–19 Cases Isolated in an Alexandria University Student Dormitory

Abstract

With the rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in Egypt, the Ministry of Health and Population decided to use the university student dormitories as isolation hospitals for mild cases. The present study was conducted to describe the current situation of isolated COVID-19 cases in Smouha Alexandria Student Dormitory from the 7th till the 31st of May 2020. The cumulative number of reported COVID-19 cases was 487 by the 31st of May 2020, with 41.7% still under treatment, 24.4% isolated at home while still under treatment, 19.9% completely cured, 13.8% transferred to one of the isolation hospitals, and only 0.2% died. The death rate was very low. Moreover, the transfer to isolation hospitals decreased and the cure rate increased to one fifth by the end of the month. These rates denote good quality of care and good prognosis among the cases admitted to the dormitory. With the increase in number of cases, it is recommended to prepare more dormitories to be used with isolation hospitals in case of emergency.