Two more COVID-19 cases reported, bringing Taiwan total to 30

Taipei, Feb. 24 (CNA) Taiwan reported two more confirmed cases of COVID-19 coronavirus Monday, bringing the number in the country to 30 since the outbreak began, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said that day.

Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中), who heads the CECC, told reporters that the latest two cases are the younger son and wife of the 27th case.

The younger son, in his 40s, developed respiratory symptoms on Jan. 29 but did not see a doctor.

He was finally admitted to a hospital isolation ward under the instruction of the health authorities after he was listed as a close contact of the 27th case -- his 80-something father -- on Feb. 23, according to the CECC.

The son, who had frequently traveled to and from China for work, including Wuhan City, the epicenter of the outbreak, returned to Taiwan from his last trip to China from Guangzhou Province on Dec. 2, the CECC said.

He had also attended several gatherings with friends who had recent history of travel to China during the Lunar New Year holiday, it noted.

Meanwhile, the 30th case, a woman in her 70s who is the wife of the 27th case, was diagnosed with acute pharyngitis on Feb. 6.

She had visited hospitals four times between Feb. 10 and Feb. 19 due to continued respiratory symptoms, but was not admitted until Feb. 22 after being listed as a close contact of the 27th patient.

She is also in an isolation ward, but has not yet developed a fever, the CECC said.

So far, four people in the same family have been confirmed as having contracted the virus.

Meanwhile, the CECC has identified 143 people who had been in contact with 27th case.

Among them, three have been confirmed as having the disease, 50 have been ruled out, are the rest are pending test results, the CECC said.