6 Case Identification and Report

The fourth edition simplified p rocedures of diagnosis, reporting,identification, and referral of suspected cases.

The fifth edition separates Hubei differently with other provinces.

“For high altitude areas(above 1 kilometer), PaO2/FiO2 values should be adjusted based on equation of PaO2/FiO2 × Atmospheric Pressure(mmHg)/760” is added in “PaO2/FiO2 ≤300 mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa)” in the sixth edition.Patients with “>50% lesions progression within 24 to 48 hours in pulmonary imaging” should be treated as severe cases.

Compared with the fourth edition, case identification and reporting procedures are same with provinces except Hubei in the fifth edition,but it emphasizes that the suspected patients should be transferred to the designated hospital as soon as possible with the permission of transfer safety.For Hubei Province, medical staff at all levels and types of medical institutions should immediately isolate and treat suspected and clinically diagnosed cases that meet the definition of the case. Every suspected or clinically diagnosed case should be isolated in a single room. And the specimens should be collected for pathogenic testing as soon as possible.

The “Disposal requirements for clinical diagnosed case in Hubei Province” is deleted in the sixth edition, as well as “exclusion criteria for suspected cases”.Standards of release of isolation for suspected cases are corresponded with“Removal Standards of Isolation”. “Especially for suspected cases, rapid antigen detection, multiple PCR nucleic acid test and other methods should be adopted to examine common respiratory pathogens” are highlighted in the sixth edition.