Steps and Challenges in Creating and Managing Quarantine Capacity During a Global Emergency - Qatar's Experience

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the lack of adequate and appropriate quarantine capacity globally. Most countries lack the knowledge and/or capacity to set up and manage quarantine facilities at a national scale.

Methods: The State of Qatar developed a systematic plan to create and manage quarantine facilities for persons with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infection or returning travelers and residents. A checklist was developed to streamline the process and to help other institutions requiring such guidance.

Results: Three distinct stages were identified: acquisition, commissioning and active operations. Steps required for each stage were identified and added to the checklist.

Conclusion: We share our experience and a checklist for setting up new quarantine capacity at a national level. Such checklists can serve as a critical tool to quickly and efficiently ramp up capacity in this setting.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; infection control; quarantine; rapid response.