Investigation of An Imported Family Cluster of COVID-19, Central Taiwan, January 2020

Investigation of An Imported Family Cluster of COVID-19, Central Taiwan, January 2020

On January 30, a 44-year-old female without a history of traveling from China was confirmed as a COVID-19 patient. The patient reported fever, cough, myalgia, and headache on January 27. Her 44-year-old husband, who just returned from Wuhan, China on January 12, had mild upper respiratory symptoms on January 21. On January 30, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control conducted epidemiological investigation to explore the source and magnitude of this outbreak. Of 31 close contacts (10 from households, 19 from hospital, and 2 other contacts), six (19%) developed symptoms during the 14-day postexposure follow-up period, but none were tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. This cluster comprised two cases of COVID-19, with transmission by infector from Wuhan (the husband). We recommend that suspected COVID-19 patients from epidemic region should be notified, isolated and tested promptly. Close contacts of confirmed COVID-19 cases, particularly household contacts, should be quarantined and tested as early as possible to detect COVID-19 infection and prevent community spreading.