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Taiwan confirms two indigenous cases of COVID-19; people in contact with them being monitored

  • Data Source:Centers for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Welfare
  • Created:2020-02-16
  • Last Updated:2020-02-18

     According to the Central Epidemic Command Center, two more cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been confirmed in Taiwan. The first case is a male in his 60s, with a history of hepatitis B and diabetes. He had no recent overseas travel history, and no known contact with COVID-19 confirmed cases. The patient began to cough January 27, and went to a hospital February 3 for shortness of breath, where he was diagnosed with pneumonia. He was hospitalized in a negative pressure isolation ward the same day. On the evening of February 15, the patient died of pneumonia-induced sepsis. With his family members’ consent, the patient’s remains will be cremated in accordance with legal requirements for communicable diseases. Tissue specimens will first be taken for further testing. 

     The second confirmed case is a male in his 50s, a member of the first case’s family. He was confirmed infected with COVID-19 after lab tests February 15. So far, this patient shows no symptoms of COVID-19, and is being treated in a negative pressure isolation ward.