By / Scenic Family Fresh (compiled and reported)
The Central Epidemic Command Center announced on February 8 that there was one new imported case of severe pneumonia with novel pathogens in Taiwan; individuals with travel history to China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan must self-monitor for 14 days; 23 new cases were confirmed on the Diamond Princess cruise ship docked in Japan, bringing the total to 64.
![](\"/pic/20200208/6fdb18bf8677dd9d481c350af69f4a36.jpg\")
Photo / Micheal.
The newly confirmed case is the son (originally listed as a contact, in his 20s) of the northern Taiwanese couple in their 50s who were confirmed cases announced on the evening of February 6. The individual traveled with his parents to Italy from January 22 to 31, and returned to Taiwan via a transfer in Hong Kong on February 1. During a contact investigation, health authorities found that the individual had developed cough symptoms while in Italy on January 27, so testing was arranged and he was hospitalized for isolation. He tested positive today. As of now, there are a total of 17 confirmed cases in Taiwan.
The Command Center reported that 64 new suspected cases of severe pneumonia with novel pathogens were reported on February 7, bringing the cumulative total to 1,399 cases — including 17 confirmed, 1,258 ruled out, and the rest under isolation and testing (57 preliminary negative, the rest pending). The 17 confirmed patients are in stable condition; apart from the first case, the others remain hospitalized in isolation. Additionally, 116 contacts of Cases 2 and 3 have completed monitoring and been released. Excluding Case 17, there are 172 contacts of other confirmed cases, 8 of whom have shown symptoms and been reported (6 ruled out, 2 awaiting test results, 2 tested negative). Moreover, among the 246 Taiwanese businesspeople who returned from Wuhan on the evening of February 3, 5 have shown symptoms and been reported (1 ruled out, 2 undergoing initial tests, 2 tested negative), while the other 241 under centralized quarantine continue to be closely monitored for health conditions.
According to data released by China’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention and health commissions across provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions, a total of 34,546 confirmed cases of novel coronavirus infection have been reported in all 31 mainland provinces (excluding Hong Kong and Macau SARs), an increase of 3,399 from the previous day; Hubei Province alone added 2,841 cases. Of these, 6,101 are in serious condition and 722 have died, with the majority of deaths — 699 — occurring in Hubei. There are also 27,657 suspected cases.
Apart from Taiwan, there are a total of 245 confirmed international cases across 26 countries and regions; the highest numbers are Singapore with 33 cases, Hong Kong with 26, Thailand with 25, South Korea with 24, and Japan with 21 (excluding 4 asymptomatic cases and 64 cruise ship passengers). Among these, there have been 2 deaths — one in Hong Kong and one in the Philippines.
The Command Center once again urges the public to wash hands frequently with soap, avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth, and practice proper cough etiquette. Those entering Taiwan from abroad who experience symptoms such as fever or cough should proactively report to airport and port quarantine officers and follow all epidemic prevention measures. If any suspicious symptoms appear within 14 days of returning, call the toll-free epidemic prevention hotline 1922 (or 0800-001922), wear a mask, seek medical attention promptly as instructed, and be sure to inform the doctor of your travel history, occupation, contact history, and whether you’ve been in a group setting (TOCC) to facilitate timely diagnosis and reporting.