Since December 2019, the outbreak of a new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has become a major epidemic threat in China. As of March 10, 2020, there have been 80,778 confirmed cases in mainland China, 61,475 cured cases (76.10%), and 3,158 deaths (3.91%).1 All 31 provinces in mainland China have adopted first-level responses to major public health emergencies. The central government and some provincial governments have provided food and medicine, and have sent expert and medical teams to manage and control the most affected areas (outbreak response in Wuhan and surrounding cities in Hubei Province). On February 24, 2020, Chinese members of parliament began to consider a draft decision to completely ban the illegal wildlife trade and eliminate the undesirable habit of the consumption of wild animals to protect public health.1
On January 12, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) temporarily named the new virus “2019-New Coronavirus (2019-nCoV).”2 Subsequent research confirmed that 2019-nCoV belongs to a new type of β-coronavirus, because its genetic characteristics differed significantly from those of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Furthermore, its homology with bat-sl-covzc45 exceeded 85%;3 thus, the WHO renamed it to the “severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).”4 Prior to this, six coronaviruses were known to cause human disease, including alpha 229E and NL63, HKU1, OC43, SARS-CoV, and beta MERS-CoV. In normal individuals, 229E, NL63, HKU1, and OC43 only causes common cold symptoms, while severe SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV can cause death.5.6 On February 13, 2020, the WHO officially named pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2 “COVID-19.”
The National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China reported on February 6, 2020 in the Handbook of Prevention and Treatment of the Pneumonia Caused by the Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV), details of the currently known pathogenic characteristics of the new coronavirus, and introduced some practicality in conjunction with the current situation.7
The new coronavirus is highly contagious and can be transmitted from person to person through respiratory droplets or contact. The general population is susceptible. Epidemiological investigation shows that the incubation period of the new coronavirus pneumonia is generally 3–7 days, and the longest incubation does not exceed 14 days.8 It differs from SRAS-CoV, as COVID-19 is also contagious during the incubation period.9 In addition, interpersonal transmission can occur both in hospitals and in the home environment.10 COVID-19 outbreaks have occurred in many cities in China, and have expanded globally, including South Korea and Japan, among other countries. This has led the WHO to announce a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).11
After analyzing the diagnosis and treatment experience of cured patients, we concluded that early identification, reporting, isolation, diagnosis, and treatment constitute some of the best and most effective ways to curb pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2.12 At the same time, the efficacy of traditional Chinese and western medicine has been recognized. Nationally, more than 75% of patients with COVID-19 in Hubei have been receiving traditional Chinese medicine treatment, compared with more than 90% in other parts of China.12
Thus far, despite new coronavirus outbreaks, China has launched public health emergency interventions for mental health, such as the establishment of a mental health hotline and the establishment of nationwide telephone and internet-based counseling services to facilitate patient knowledge, alleviate fears, and solve problems related to mental health.12 The National Health Commission has even issued guidelines for local authorities to promote psychological crisis interventions for patients, medical staff, and people under medical observation.13 However, the type of influence the patient’s mental health status or mental state may have on the course of the disease, and the extent to which it may be affected remains unknown. To our knowledge, no scientific study has been conducted to analyze the relationship between the mental health of the patient and the course of the disease.
Therefore, we aimed to use the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and Van Dream Anxiety Scales, which are common clinical assessments to determine anxiety, depression, and the mental state. We also predict and analyze health status, mental health status of patients with moderate and severe infections, to understand the correlation between mental status and disease severity. In addition, we performed statistical analysis of the epidemiological data, clinical signs, as well as the imaging and laboratory test results of patients to provide timely frontline information.