Analysis of 2019-nCoV Infection and Clinical Manifestations of Outpatients: An Epidemiological Study from the Fever Clinic in Wuhan, China

Background: Since the outbreak of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) pneumonia, thousands of patients with fever, cough or fatigue were flocked to department of fever outpatients of designated hospitals in Wuhan, China, everyday. To date, no data have been provided to reflect the prevalence of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) among these outpatients. Besides, little is known on the distinguishable clinical features between COVID-19 and nucleic acid negative patients in fever clinics.Methods: From January 30 to February 4, 2020, a retrospective study was conducted on 936 patients from the fever clinic of Tongji Hospital, the biggest third-level grade-A hospital in Wuhan, which is located in the worst affected area by 2019-nCoV. The infectious status of 2019-nCoV was estimated among the outpatients in the fever clinics. The epidemiological and clinical characteristics were compared between COVID-19 and nucleic acid negative patients.