Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of the confirmed coronavirus diseases 2019 (COVID-19) cases reported in Haidian district of Beijing and provide basic data for the effective prevention and control of COVID-19.

Methods With descriptive epidemiology method, we analyzed the demographic characteristics, the source of infection, and medical-care seeking of the confirmed COVID-19 cases in Haidian, and compared the differences in these characteristics between severe cases and mild cases. The clinical specimens of the cases were tested for 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) RNA using the real-time quantitative PCR assay.

Results From January 20 to March 8, 2020, a total of 63 confirmed COVID-19 cases were reported in Haidian, of whom 30 (47.6%) were males. The median of the age was 47 years (interquartile range: 36–67 years), ranging from 9 months to 88 years. Twenty cases (31.7%) were aged 60–79 years. In the occupation distribution, 21 cases (33.3%) were staff members, and 3 were health workers (4.8%). From January 20 to January 28, 2020, the majority of these cases (12/22, 54.6%) were individuals who had been to Wuhan 14 days before disease onset, and 25 cases (61.0%) acquired infection through local transmission thereafter. A total of 12 family clusters were reported, involving 39 cases. As of 9 April, 2020, 58 cases (92.0%) had been cured and discharged from hospitals, 1 case had died of pulmonary fibrosis, and 4 cases had died from COVID-19, with the case fatality rate of 6.3%. Of all the cases, 17 (27.0%) were severe cases and 46 (73.0%) were mild cases. Older age ［≥50 years vs. <50 years, OR=9.632; 95% confidential interval (CI): 2.238–41.456］ and longer interval from disease onset to seeking medical care (≥7 days vs. <7 days, OR=4.175; 95% CI: 1.116–15.610) were associated with the increased risk of severe illness.

Conclusion At the early stage of the COVID-19 outbreak in Haidian, the imported cases from Wuhan accounted for majority of the total cases, then the cases acquired infection mainly through local transmission. Seeking medical care at fever clinic as early as possible after the disease onset is key to reduce the occurrence of severe illness and death, particularly for those aged ≥50 years.