To analyze the clinical features of Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, to provide clinical evidence for early detection and diagnosis of COVID-19 and to explore the emergency response strategy under the current epidemic situation.

Retrospective analysis was made on the clinical data and triage results in 537 cases of pre-examination and triage of fever in the Third Affiliated Hospital of sun Yat-sen University from January 25, 2020 to February 6, 2020; meanwhile, 7 COVID-19 cases were collected. The novel corona virus nucleic acid test results (throat swab plus stool) were retrospectively analyzed on the basis of epidemiological data, clinical data, imaging examination, laboratory examination and new corona virus nucleic acid test.

537 cases were divided in the pre-examination and triage desk of fever clinic: 469 cases (87.3%) were divided into the general fever clinic. All patients underwent chest CT examination, and the imaging findings were pulmonary inflammation in 37 cases (7.8%). The novel coronavirus nucleic acid was negative in all swabs and stool. 68 cases (12.7%) were divided into the special fever clinics; 41 cases were received by negative pressure ambulance and 6 cases were confirmed; 27 cases were sent to the hospital and 1 case was confirmed. The confirmed cases accounted for 10.3% of outpatients with special fever. The confirmed cases were all related to the epidemic area of Wuhan, including the history of living in the epidemic area of Wuhan or the history of close contact with people in the epidemic area. The main clinical manifestations were fever and/or respiratory symptoms (sore throat, cough, expectoration, chest tightness, hoarseness, stuffy nose, dry throat, fatigue, etc.). The duration of hospitalization was 1-8 days (mean 3.7 days). Chest CT showed pulmonary inflammation in all cases, of which pneumonia of both lobes accounted for 71.42%. Only one patient had abnormal peripheral blood leukocyte count, lymphocyte proportion, lymphocyte absolute value and C-reactive protein; 7 cases of COVID-19 and throat swabs were positive for the virus. The novel coronavirus with stool was positive in 4 cases and the positive time of stool nucleic acid detection was later than that of throat swab 1 - 7 days, with an average of 3.25 days.

Rapid pre-examination and triage based on the epidemiological history of the disease have been shown to be highly effective in combating COVID-19, minimizing misdiagnosis and preventing nosocomial cross infection, which is worth popularizing.