CECC conducts an investigation and implements prevention and control measures for the hospital and community in response to the two new indigenous case

On January 12, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced two new confirmed indigenous cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Taiwan. The two new indigenous cases are a Taiwanese man in his 30s (Case #838) and a Taiwanese woman in her 20s (Case #839).

Case #838 is a doctor working at a hospital in northern Taiwan. The doctor provided care for a confirmed case and began to experience a cough and fever on January 8, 2021. The doctor sought medical attention and was tested for COVID-19 on January 10. Infection with COVID-19 was laboratory-confirmed in the case on January 12. Case #839 is a contact of Case #838, and they live together. Case #839 is a professional nurse working at the same hospital as the doctor. The professional nurse began to experience a cough and fever on January 9. The professional nurse was given a test on January 11, and infection with COVID-19 was laboratory-confirmed in the case on January 12.

In response to this incident, related disease prevention and control measures being imposed include the following:
1. Hospitalized patients can only leave the hospital but cannot return;
2. 39 medical workers identified as the contacts of the two cases have been placed in home isolation;
3. The outpatient and emergency departments of the hospital can operate as usual;
4. All visits to the hospital have been cancelled, and only one person can accompany a patient and the person shall provide his or her real name;
5. Patients have been moved to single-room wards and placed in isolation for a 14-day period of observation;
6. All staff working at the hospital will be tested again after three days.

(Source: CDC Website)