The role of an out-of-hospital Sanitary Isolation Center during the COVID-19 pandemic: the experience of Quilmes

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: In response to the increase of COVID-19 cases in the city of Quilmes (Buenos Aires Province), and considering the sociodemographic and housing characteristics of its population, a Sanitary Isolation Center at the National University of Quilmes (CASUNQ) was put into operation from April 22 to November 15, 2020. The objective of this work was to describe the operation of CAS-UNQ and its contribution to addressing the first wave of COVID 19 in Quilmes. METHODS: The general organization if the CAS-UNQ was conducted by a health team, which deployed the necessary strategies to take care of all the people housed there. Those who came to CAS-UNQ were experiencing mild illness and could not be isolated at home. Three lines of work were established: medical care, psychological support and social approach with a rights perspective. RESULTS: A total of 954 people were isolated (407 women, 362 men, and 185 children under 13 years of age). The maximum number of people isolated simultaneously was 120. The mean age of hospitalization was 27 years. DISCUSSION: The implementation of the CAS-UNQ was an effective tool both to cut chains of infections in environments of rapid spread of the virus and to carry out comprehensive health monitoring and access to rights of the population.