Table 1 List of prevention actions against nosocomial transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine

➢ Except the patient 1, all other patients in unit A were transferred to unit B.

➢ Unit A was then assigned as the primary unit for suspected cases of COVID-19.

➢ Patient 2 was transferred to unit A in a single-bed hospital room.

➢ All inpatients were screened daily and the suspected cases were immediately transferred to unit A in individual single-bed hospital rooms.

➢ All patients in unit A were asked to wear surgical masks and quarantined in their rooms, and visits were temporarily suspended in unit A.

➢ Strict personal protective measures including N95 respirator, facemask, gloves, surgical cap, and isolation gown were required for HCWs in unit A.

➢ All HCWs in unit A were reminded of the need for extreme vigilance with regard to hand hygiene protocols including the use of antiseptic soap or alcoholic hand rub, especially before and after contacting the patients or their surroundings.

➢ All communal activities were suspended in unit A.

➢ In unit B and unit C, the inpatients were hospitalized and treated following the standard routine, and the HCWs in these units were equipped with conventional protective measure the surgical mask and followed standard hand hygiene protocols.