Background:

The COVID-19 pandemic is the defining health crisis of our time that has put health systems to the test around the world.

Objective:

to describe the clinical epidemiological characteristics of patients in isolation, during the first four months of 2021.

Methods:

observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study. The study universe consisted of 2 631 patients who were contacts and suspected of the disease admitted to two isolation centers at the University of Medical Sciences of Cienfuegos, from January to April 2021. The variables were analyzed: age, sex, occupation, municipality of residence, epidemiological antecedents, comorbidities and confirmation by the real-time polymerase chain test. An epidemiological survey and individual medical history were prepared during isolation.

Results:

78.3% of the patients in isolation were contacts of confirmed cases, the patients of working age represented the highest percentage, with a predominance of the female sex. The municipality of Cienfuegos contributed the largest number of patients. 59.2% of these had at least one comorbidity, more than 50% were hypertensive. 8% of the suspects were positive for COVID-19.

Conclusions:

the isolation of contact and suspects as a measure to contain the pandemic represents an impact strategy. Knowing the characteristics of isolated patients serves as a baseline for the development of new health measures.

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