By / Scenic Spot Family Fresh, compiled report
The Central Epidemic Command Center announced on the 29th that there were 15 new domestic COVID-19 (Wuhan pneumonia) cases, including 14 imported and 1 local case. The total number of cases has reached 298.
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Image / Scenic Spot Family Fresh
The locally transmitted Case 268 (male, a company boss in his 50s), which drew attention on the 28th, still has an under-investigation source of infection. He began showing symptoms on February 28. Command Center spokesperson Chuang Jen-hsiang stated on the 29th that Case 268 mostly moved around his company and its vicinity. On February 29, he also visited Miaokou Meatball Soup at Jinshan Old Street (17:20–18:54), and on March 15, he ate snacks at Wulai Old Street (14:30–16:48).
Due to the severity of his symptoms, this Case 268 had been transferred to the ICU for treatment on the 27th. Health authorities have identified a total of 102 close contacts, including his family members living together, colleagues, and medical personnel, and will further investigate his activity and exposure history before symptom onset.
[Domestic Epidemic Situation]
The imported cases consist of 9 males and 5 females, aged between their teens and their 60s. Their entry dates range from March 14 to 27, and symptom onset dates range from March 8 to 25. Before becoming ill, these individuals had travel histories in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Turkey, Morocco, Tunisia, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Their purposes of travel were mainly tourism or work.
Case 284, who had long worked in the Philippines, returned to Taiwan on March 20 on the same flight (EVA Air BR-282) as yesterday’s (28th) Case 277. On the 26th, during home quarantine, he felt unwell and notified health authorities to seek medical care, and was confirmed today. His cohabiting contacts are currently under home quarantine. The Command Center reminds passengers who were on the same flight that day to pay close attention to their health conditions during home quarantine. If any suspected symptoms occur, please notify health authorities to arrange for medical care.
Among the newly added cases today are 3 cluster events. Cases 289 and 293 are a married couple. Case 293 traveled to Spain and Portugal with a tour group from March 7 to 16 and started home quarantine after returning. Both developed symptoms on March 22 and 23 respectively and were confirmed today, and are now receiving treatment in negative pressure isolation wards. As Case 289 has no travel history abroad, it is determined to be a local case caused by close contact with Case 293 without proper protection. Other cohabiting family members are undergoing testing.
Case 288 traveled to Morocco with a tour group from March 10 to 22. One person in that tour group was confirmed on March 26 (Case 250). Case 288 developed symptoms such as fever and cough on March 23. After being arranged for medical treatment and testing by health authorities, he was confirmed today. To date, a total of 2 people in this tour group have been confirmed.
Cases 290 and 291 are a married couple who traveled independently in Indonesia from March 10 to 14. After returning, they continued self-health management at home. Both developed symptoms on the 22nd, and on the 26th drove together to seek medical testing, and were confirmed today, and are now receiving treatment in negative pressure isolation wards. Related contacts are all under home quarantine. The remaining imported cases are individual ones.
[Epidemic Statistics]
To date, a cumulative total of 298 confirmed cases (Cases 284 to 298 today) have been reported, comprising 255 imported and 43 local cases. Of the confirmed cases, 2 have died, 39 have been released from quarantine, and the rest are in stable condition and continue to be hospitalized in isolation.
Globally, there are 645,244 confirmed cases across 177 countries/regions. The highest numbers of cases are in the United States (119,748), Italy (92,472), Mainland China (81,439), Spain (72,248), and Germany (48,582). There have been 29,854 deaths, with the most in Italy (10,023), Spain (5,690), Mainland China (3,300), Iran (2,517), and France (2,314).