II. Lessons Learned

Supplement I: Infection Control in Healthcare, Home, and Community Settings

Public Health Guidance for Community-Level Preparedness and Response to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) Version 2/3

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The following lessons learned from the global experience with SARS-CoV have been considered in developing this Supplement:

• Transmission of SARS-CoV appears to occur predominantly through close interactions with infected persons.
• Persons with unrecognized SARS-CoV disease can contribute to the initiation or expansion of an outbreak, especially in healthcare settings.
• Transmission of SARS-CoV in a single healthcare facility can have far-reaching public health effects.
• Transmission to healthcare workers has occurred primarily after close, unprotected contact with symptomatic persons before implementation of infection control precautions.
• Certain high-risk procedures and events can increase the risk of SARS-CoV transmission.
• Infection control is a primary public health intervention for containing the spread of SARS-CoV.
• Patients with SARS-CoV disease need to be isolated to minimize the risk of transmission to others.
• Patients with mild SARS-CoV disease can be safely isolated in locations other than acute-care facilities, such as at home or in community facilities designated for isolation of SARS patients.