The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has presented numerous challenges to health systems, including large numbers of patients with COVID-19 that can overwhelm health facilities and staff. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about 80% of people with COVID-19 have mild or moderate symptoms1 [1]. Treatment for mildly to moderately ill patients may not require hospitalization, but some people may not be able to isolate safely at home, putting household contacts and, in turn, community members at risk of COVID-19 [2, 3]. Isolation shelters, or community isolation centers (CICs), can provide people with mild to moderate symptoms, who are not at increasedrisk for severe disease, with a safe space to voluntarily2 isolate until they are no longer considered infectious according to Ministry of Health guidelines [1, 2]. Such centers can reduce household transmission and reserve health facility resources for more seriously ill patients.
People with increased risk for severe disease or severe symptoms should seek care at a health facility or hospital where advanced care and treatment can be provided, if beds are available. If no hospital beds are available, it is preferable for these people to be isolated in a CIC rather than staying at home. People with mild or moderate illness who have been tested and are awaiting a diagnosis should isolate at home until they know their status to avoid becoming infected from other patients at a CIC. However, in cases where safely isolating at home is not possible, people who are awaiting a diagnosis may isolate in a CIC. CICs should ensure that people with suspected COVID-19 (either awaiting test results or unable to be tested due to lack of tests) and those with confirmed cases are placed in separate areas.
This document provides operational considerations for CDC Country Offices, Ministries of Health, and partners about establishing and operating CICs for people with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 who are remaining in the CIC voluntarily, and ensuring that people in CICs are safe and have access to adequate healthcare, food, water, sanitation, and hygiene products and services. It is intended for non-US settings. While this document is most relevant for low-resource settings, it may also be applicable to other settings…read more.