MASS QUARANTINE EXPERIENCE AFTER UMRAH VISIT

This study aimed to determine demographic characteristics, COVID-19 positivity rates of the quarantined individuals, and risk factors between those developing and not developing disease symptoms. The individuals who returned from Mecca, Saudi Arabia to Turkey on March 15, 2020 were transported from the airport to the campus of dormitories and quarantined for 14 days. This study included 2941 passengers who returned from Umrah visit to Turkey and were quarantined between March 15, 2020 and April 2, 2020. There were 1828 (62.2%) women. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test was positive in 295 (10%) of those in quarantine, 196 (66.4%) of them women. Among the patients with a positive PCR test result, there was no significant difference between women and men in terms of age and comorbidity. Of the 295 COVID-19 patients detected, 37 (12.5%) had symptoms. There was no significant difference between symptomatic individuals and asymptomatic individuals in terms of age, gender, and comorbidity. Quarantining everyone who has come from risky areas ensures that patients are isolated from the community, which can prevent the spread of the disease.