Risk management during the initial phase of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic in the largest city in Thailand

Abstract

This study was to describe risk management in response to the COVID-19 epidemic in Bangkok and analyze its outcomes in terms of early access to the SARS-COV-2 testing and disease severity. This cross-sectional study was conducted from 21 January 2020 to 21 March 2020 and used a mixed method. Qualitative data were from documents related to risk management at Institute for Urban Disease Control and Prevention (IUDC), while quantitative inputs were secondary data of 4,638 people whom hospitals in Bangkok identified as possibly infected with COVID-19 and reported IUDC. Data analysis used content analysis and descriptive. Findings were grouped into the Plan-Do-Check-Act Cycle. In Step 1 (Plan), risk assessment indicated the epidemic as the limited local transmission scenario and capacity assessment identified strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to guide the planning. In Step 2 (Do), planned activities with multisectoral response effort were implemented. In the data processing Step 3 (Check), 55.5% of people who met the testing criteria accessed SARS-CoV-2 testing within one week after symptom onset. Proportion of confirmed cases was 8.4% (389/4,638), and 49.9% of these had cough. The final Step 4 (Act), multisectoral response and EOC leadership were recommended as part of the epidemic response when public and private establishments are reopened because they helped the eligible to have access to early testing and prevent disease severity.