By / Fresh compiled by ScenicSpots.com
On March 18, the CDC announced 23 new domestic COVID-19 (Wuhan pneumonia) cases, 21 of which were imported (4 linked to a Turkish tour group cluster), and 2 were domestic cases (1 was a contact of an Egyptian tour group case). Travel alerts for the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand have been raised to Level 3 — non-essential travel is not advised.
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Image / ScenicSpots.com Fresh
[Domestic Outbreak]
The 4 newly confirmed cases from the Turkish tour group are 3 women and 1 man, aged between their 20s and 50s. Two are asymptomatic, and the other two developed symptoms on March 11 and 16 respectively. After testing and reporting, they were confirmed today. To date, 13 people from this tour group have tested positive, and 171 contacts have been identified.
The other 17 newly confirmed imported cases are 10 women and 7 men, aged between their 20s and 50s. Their onset dates range from February 14 to March 16. Their travel histories include: 3 cases each from Spain and the U.S., 2 each from the U.K. and France, and 1 each from Indonesia, Qatar, the Philippines, Switzerland, and Germany. One case had traveled to France, Spain, and the U.K., and another had been to the U.K., Italy, and France.
The 2 domestic cases are a man and a woman in their 20s. The male in his 20s is a contact of a confirmed case from the Egyptian tour group and is asymptomatic; he was confirmed after testing as a contact. The female in her 20s has no recent travel history abroad. She developed symptoms on March 12, sought medical attention on her own, and was confirmed after testing. The source of infection is still under investigation.
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[Global Outbreak]
Meanwhile, the global outbreak continues to expand. In the U.S., the number of new daily cases has recently exceeded a thousand, with community transmission occurring in four states. Canada and Australia report nearly a hundred new cases per day, while New Zealand maintains close travel ties with Australia. The U.S. and Australia have both declared national or partial states of emergency. Given the risk of infection for our citizens in these areas, the CECC announced that, in addition to the previously listed Level 3 regions — Washington State, New York State, and California in the U.S. — the travel health notices for the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand (including transit) will be raised to “Level 3” (Warning) starting at midnight on March 19. Nationals should avoid all non-essential travel to these areas. Those entering from Level 3 countries or regions must undergo 14 days of home quarantine. Additionally, starting at midnight on March 19 (Taiwan time), all incoming travelers will be subject to 14 days of home quarantine.
As of today, the CECC has announced (including those taking effect in the future) a total of 97 countries and 1 region under Level 3 travel health notices. These include mainland China (including Hong Kong and Macau), 20 other Asian countries outside mainland China, 9 Central Asian countries, 26 Schengen countries, the U.K., Ireland, 14 Eastern European countries, 16 Middle Eastern countries and 1 region, 5 North African countries, the U.S., Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. The Level 3 designation also extends to their overseas territories.
[Outbreak Statistics]
There were 884 new domestic reports related to COVID-19, bringing the cumulative total to 18,812 cases (including 17,793 cases ruled out). Of these, 100 cases have been confirmed (new cases 78 to 100 today), comprising 71 imported and 29 domestic cases. Among the confirmed cases, there remains 1 death, 22 have been released from isolation, and the rest are in stable condition, remaining hospitalized in isolation.
The CECC noted that globally, there have been 193,748 confirmed cases across 145 countries/regions. The highest number of cases are in mainland China (80,881), Italy (27,980), Iran (14,991), Spain (9,191), and South Korea (8,236). There have been 7,086 deaths, with the most in mainland China (3,226), Italy (2,158), Iran (853), Spain (309), and France (148).