Characteristics of patients with COVID-19 hospitalised in South Australia during the first wave of the pandemic

Abstract

Objective: To describe the first wave of hospitalisations of patients testing positive for COVID-19 in South Australia. Methods: Pathology test results for COVID-19 between January and June 2020 were matched against state-wide ED and inpatient data sets. Results: The impact of the first wave of COVID-19 on South Australian hospitals was 440 unique patients with COVID-19; median ED, hospital and ICU lengths of stay of 4.7 h, 9.8 days and 4.1 days, respectively; and a crude mortality rate of 0.23 deaths per 100 000 population (four deaths). Conclusion: The study sheds light on the characteristics of patients with COVID-19 hospitalised in South Australia.