There is insufficient knowledge about transmission routes and the effectiveness of general protective measures to prevent infection, such as the closure of schools or the wearing of mouthguards. This will be illustrated using the example of the COVID-19 outpatient clinic in Solingen and the positive COVID-19 tests registered there. Another aspect we would like to address in this study is the number of COVID-19 tests performed against the background of political events or dramatic accumulations of COVID-19 cases in other parts of Germany or Europe. Do speeches by political leaders about the COVID-19 situation or a very strong regional spread of infection elsewhere have an impact on the frequency with which people react sensitively to suspicious symptoms and undergo testing for infection?
The aim of this study is to analyse the frequency of positive COVID-19 tests and the
infection chains in Solingen since February 2020:
1. a prospective survey (telephone contact) of the positively tested patients is done to
analyze the social environment and thus provide information about possible transmission
routes. Is transmission mainly within the family through visits from relatives or rather
through large extra-familial gatherings, such as in the case of the open huts and
après-ski bars in Ischgl? Are there age- or gender-specific transmission routes
(personal habits, travel)?
2. analysis of the number of positive tests in connection with general measures to contain
the infection (closure of schools, mouthguards obligation, etc.)
3. characterization of positively tested patients based on anthropometric data and medical
history.
4. the effect of political events and developments in world affairs on the daily visitor
frequency in the COVID-19 outpatient clinic will be retrospectively investigated. Is
there an accumulation of tests after speeches by politicians or public figures (Angela
Merkel, Armin Laschet, Queen Elizabeth II, etc.) or after dramatic infection numbers in
other parts of Germany or Europe (Heinsberg, Ischgl, etc.)?
Inclusion Criteria:
- positive COVID-19 test result
Exclusion Criteria:
- negative COVID-19 test result
- Any medical, psychological or other condition which restricts the ability to provide
information or consent of the patient for voluntary participation in this examination
Institut für Pneumologie an der Universität zu Köln / Wissenschaftliches Institut Bethanien für Pneumologie e.V.
Solingen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany