By / ScenicSpot Fresh Compilation & Report
The country reported 161 new cases of severe pneumonia caused by a novel coronavirus, bringing the cumulative total to 2,450 cases. These include 42 confirmed cases (with the 42nd case reported today), 2,135 cases ruled out, and the rest still under quarantine and testing (154 preliminary tests negative, the rest pending).
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Din Tai Fung, which usually requires queuing, no longer has lines. (Photo / ScenicSpot Fresh)
The 42nd case is linked to the 34th case; she was infected while accompanying her husband in the hospital, but they were not in the same ward, leading to suspicion that healthcare workers may have transmitted the virus while moving between wards.
Among the confirmed cases, 1 person has died, 12 have been discharged, and the remaining are in stable condition and remain hospitalized in isolation. Of the 828 close contacts related to Cluster 27, 183 have been tested, with 5 testing positive (Cases 28 to 32) and the rest negative. Health authorities continue to monitor the health status and test results of close contacts of Cases 33, 39, and 40, who are imported cases, as well as the 19 Taiwanese repatriated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship—none have required transfer to hospitals and are being closely observed in centralized quarantine facilities.
The command center stated that, according to data released by China’s CDC and health commissions across provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions (excluding Hong Kong and Macau), the total number of confirmed cases in all 31 mainland provinces has reached 80,151, an increase of 125 from the previous day. Among them, 6,806 are in serious condition, and 2,943 have died.
As of the official record on March 2, there were 9,720 confirmed cases internationally, spread across 71 countries/regions. The most affected include South Korea with 4,212 cases, Italy with 1,835, Iran with 1,501, Japan’s Diamond Princess cruise ship with 687 cases (including 5 Japanese nationals), and Japan with 274 cases. There have been 160 deaths globally, mostly in Iran (66), Italy (52), South Korea (22), the Diamond Princess cruise ship (6), and Japan (6).
By the daytime of March 3, South Korea’s case count had surged past 5,000. Despite Lee Man-hee, leader of the Shincheonji Church, publicly kneeling and apologizing, public anger remains high. Seoul’s mayor also stated plans to charge Lee with “manslaughter.”