Confronting the Moscow Healthcare System with the Shocks of COVID-19

Introduction. Transmissible coronavirus SARS-CoV-2I is the seventh known coronavirus that causes an acute infectious disease predominantly affecting the lungs (Corona Virus Disease 2019, COVID-19). The COVID-19 pandemic exposed serious gaps in health systems preparedness. The epidemic urgently required priority organizational measures to contain and reduce the spread of COVID-19. Public health authorities had to make decisions in a challenging situation where there was a lack of knowledge, experience, and great confidence, and the number of infected was steadily increasing. Purpose. The purpose of this article is to present the unique experience of Moscow in organizing a large-scale laboratory examination of the population of a metropolis with about 12.6 million inhabitants to meet the needs of the capital in testing for SARS-CoV-2 virus and combating
its circulation in conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods. The decisions made and the measures taken by the Government of Moscow, the Moscow Operational Staff, the DZM and the DZM Laboratory Service to slow the growth of the COVID-19 epidemic among the population of the capital are listed step-by-step. Results. In the course of organizational activities, sufficient capacity to maintain the public health infrastructure in terms of laboratory diagnosis of the new coronavirus infection was ensured by the joint efforts. Safe laboratory diagnostics for detecting, treating, and isolating COVID-19 cases and contacts have been established in the capital city. Thanks to the successful implementation of timely decisions, the spread of infection in the city of Moscow has been slowed. The Moscow government has reported a steady decline in cases of the new coronavirus disease and most hospitals have switched to a safe treatment regimen for patients requiring hospitalization. Centralized laboratories with readiness to perform screening and referral studies for COVID-19 outbreaks have been established within the structure of the DZM.