The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) will try to determine the origin of the COVID-19 virus that has infected three members of the same family by conducting genome sequencing, the center said Wednesday.
The CECC is taking the approach after a new case involving one of the family’s members was the only one of 16 domestically transmitted cases reported Wednesday that did not have a clear source.
The new case involved the wife of a man in his 40s who tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday after their teenage son was confirmed as having the virus on Monday.
After the man arrived in Taiwan from China on Jan. 10, he was isolated in a quarantine hotel for the mandatory 14 days, and tested negative for COVID-19 on Jan. 23 just before his isolation period ended.
He then traveled with his wife and son from New Taipei to Kaohsiung on Jan. 25 and stayed there until Jan. 30.
The source of their infections is still being investigated, according to CECC spokesperson Chuang Jen-hsiang (???).
Also on Wednesday, Kaohsiung authorities said they will fine the man NT$15,000 (US$539.52) for dining at a buffet restaurant in Kaohsiung on Jan. 27 while he was supposed to be observing seven-day self-health management protocols.
People subject to those protocols must wear a mask at all times when outside their residence and are not allowed to visit crowded places or dine with a group of people.
Among other domestic cases reported Wednesday, six were linked to cluster infections related to the Port of Kaohsiung, seven were thought to be part of a cluster in Taoyuan, and one was related to the Yilan County hotel cluster.
There was also one new case in Taipei involving the father of a child who is still in the hospital after coming down with COVID-19.
According to Taoyuan Mayor Cheng Wen-tsan (???), the seven new COVID-19 cases in Taoyuan included six employees of a logistics company and the son of one of the company’s cleaners.
That brought the number of cases linked to the logistics company to date to 13.
Taoyuan health authorities are now expanding COVID-19 screening to another 317 people who have had contact with confirmed cases, and the company has been asked to close down until further notice, Cheng said.
To date, Taiwan has confirmed 18,903 COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began in early 2020, including 15,097 domestically transmitted infections.
With no deaths reported on Wednesday, the number of confirmed COVID-19 deaths in the country remained at 851.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel
