A medicalized hotel as a public health resource for the containment of Covid-19: more than a place for quarantining

Background To describe the implementation of a medicalized hotel in the community of Madrid as a public health resource for the containment of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and to describe the characteristics of population benefitted. Methods A descriptive study of the implementation of the Via Castellana Medicalised Hotel (VCMH) was conducted. The average monthly household income, educational level and occupational social class of the subjects admitted were obtained through a survey conducted during their stay. Results There was no guidance for launching; however the hotel was coordinated by a tertiary referral hospital and attended the preventive medicine regulations and the decrees of legal regimes and authorization of health services in Madrid. Between 19 March and the 9 May 2020, 399 patients were admitted; 59% (235) were migrant; the main reason for referral (58%) was a lack of house conditions for quarantining, including overcrowding, which when compared with the migrant status a positive correlation was found. Some other reasons for referral were homelessness and eviction. Most of the survey participants had low monthly household income, educational level and social class. Conclusions This medicalized hotel provided medical care and offered housing to a subgroup of vulnerable population who could not afford a safe quarantine.