Table 1. Practical suggestions for contingency plans.

Settings	Suggestions
Triage	• Dedicated triage/walk-in clinic for patients with acute respiratory infections.
	• Room/area for specimen collection can be a delicate issue.
	• Transport and testing capacities should be provided.
Acute respiratory illness clinics	• Test for influenza and consider preemptive oseltamivir.
	• Advise to revisit 3–5 days later for further evaluation (SARS-CoV-2 test and chest X-ray) if no improvement seen.
Patient isolation in the healthcare settings	• Operate dedicated wards, preferably in a building separated from the rest of the facilities.
	• Separate route of movement, preferably with dedicated corridors and elevators.
	• Temporary airborne infections isolation rooms (AIIR) using mobile negative-air machines or by adjusting ventilation can be alternatives for fully equipped AIIRs.
Procedures and tests	• Avoid unnecessary aerosol-generating procedures (AGP).
	• If necessary, perform AGPs in AIIR by trained personnel with proper personal protective equipment (PPE).
	• Most radiologic test rooms are not equipped to meet the requirement for AIIR – separate dedicated radiology suites are ideal; if unavailable, consider adjusting ventilation to generate negative pressure. Advance knowledge on air change per hour would be helpful to determine safe interval between tests.
	• Avoid futile care.
Personnel	• Train medical and non-medical personnel for adequate use of PPE and providing care with PPE donned.
	• Healthcare workers (HCW) who provides specialized care (e.g., intensive care, respiratory care, renal replacement) should be trained to perform expected activities with PPE.
	• Consider differential level of PPE according to risk.
	• Plan contingency work shifts with limited number of HCWs in case of mass isolation after unexpected exposure.
	• Vaccination for influenza and pneumococcus, as indicated.
Contact tracing	• Prepare effective and easy methods for contact tracing.
	• Prioritize effort to clusters and high-risk events.
	• Monitor human behavior.
	• Home quarantine of close contacts with financial and emotional support.
Healthcare system	• Telemedicine and/or electronic subscription for patients at risk.
	• Designating hospitals for COVID-19 care.
Public education (nonpharmaceutical interventions)	• Personal hygiene: hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette.
	• Staying home when feeling ill (voluntary home isolation).
	• Wearing facemasks when feeling ill or at crowded places.
	• Cancellation of mass gathering.
	• Social distancing: increase the distance between persons when possible.
	• Cleaning frequently touched surfaces and objects.
	• Staying home for people who are old (>65 years) or who have chronic illnesses.
	• Vaccination for influenza and pneumococcus, as indicated.