A total of 599 specimens were collected in this study, of which 238 specimens collected from 46 cases (including 33 patients with COVID-19 and 13 covert infectors) in the hospital, 33 patients with COVID-19 who were an average age of 48 years (range,7 to 77 years) and 58% male. Most of the patients presented with fever, dry cough, and fatigue; none of patients had severe illness. 13 covert infectors who were an average age of 36 years (range, 11 to 52 years) and 77% male. Of which 233 specimens were collected from 93 discharged persons (including 73 discharged patients and 20 discharged covert infectors) in the isolation points, 93 discharged persons who were a mean age of 39 years (range, 3 to 77 years) and 57% male. 128 specimens were collected from 18 discharged persons whose fecal were positive.
The feces specimens showed the highest positive rate(15 of 31, 48.4%), followed by pharyngeal swabs( 21 of 46, 45.6%), urine (9 of 53,17%), hand swabs(7 of 38,18.4%) and finally saliva (7 of 70,10%) in the specimens collected in the hospital. The pharyngeal swabs specimens showed the highest positive rate(18 of 35,51.4%), followed by feces specimens( 11 of 24, 45.8%), urine (9 of 49,18.4%), hand swabs( 7 of 34, 20.6%) and saliva (7 of 57, 12.3%) in 33 inpatients specimens. The feces specimens showed the highest positive rate(4 of 7, 57.1%), followed by pharyngeal swabs( 3 of 11, 27.3%) in 13 covert infectors specimens who stay in hospital and in which none of urine, hand swabs and saliva tested positive.Only the feces specimens detected positive (18 of 93, 19.4%), including 15 discharged patients and 3 discharged covert infectors in the specimens collected in the isolated spots. None of 93 pharyngeal swabs and 47 urine tested positive. (table)
Eighteen discharged persons had positive feces specimens for a mean of 21 days (range:from 9 to 33 days )continuously after their respiratory samples became negative. They have been tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA in their clinic specimens for a mean of 37 days (range:from 29 to 48 days) after first symptom onset or the first clinic specimens tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Among them, 3 discharged covert infectors had positive feces specimens for a mean of 20 days (range: from 16 to 22 days) continuously after they respiratory samples became negative. The clinic specimens were tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA for a mean of 32 days (range: from 29 to 35 days) after first clinic specimens tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA (figure).
Six patients’ specimens were collected three times in hospital. 12 patients’ specimens were collected two times. All persons were collected 2–5 different specimens simultaneously each time. Viral RNA was detected simultaneously in the saliva, feces, pharyngeal swabs and hand swab specimens from 2 patients. Viral RNA was detected simultaneously in feces and urine specimens from 5 patients. Viral RNA was also detected simultaneously in respiratory tract specimens and in feces from 9 patients.