Possible Cross-infection in Quarantine Hotel 防疫旅館傳交互感染 相鄰2住客先後確診

A suspected domestic outbreak of a cross-infection incident has been reported in an epidemic prevention hotel. People in adjacent rooms have been diagnosed with the new coronavirus. Whether they contracted the virus inside the hotel or they were already infected while arriving at the hotel remain to be clarified. 

A 30-year-old male of Taiwanese nationality, case 16870, entered the United States in early December and developed symptoms, such as a sore throat, the next day. At that time, the doctor did not perform a screening test after the video interview. Case 16870 was only discovered after relevant personnel was retrospectively tested after case 16859 was confirmed with COVID-19. Some experts suspect that the two people lived in the same epidemic prevention hotel and were in the room next to each other. Infection in the hotel has not been ruled out and can only be confirmed by performing genetic sequencing of the two people.

Lee Ping-ing, Specialist Advisory Panel Member, CECC: “We first have to confirm if the genetic sequences are the same. Is it cross-infection? Or did each person come back from abroad with the virus? We have to clarify this first. If there is no face-to-face contact, then have to start paying attention to the virus being in our environment.”

Some doctors believe that arriving international travelers are a high-risk group as the Omicron virus strain is currently circulating globally. They must be screened no matter if symptoms appear during quarantine or home isolation. What is more worrying now is the new "7+7" Lunar New Year quarantine plan. Inbound travelers return home for the last seven days for enhanced home quarantine. This is a major test for domestic epidemic prevention if arriving travelers will strictly abide by the rules.

Liu Peng-chih, Physician, Family Practice, Shin Kong Hospital: “If the traveler does not strictly abide by the rules in the second seven days, the so-called home quarantine, will of course increase the potential of the community spread of the virus.”

Doctors advise people to wash their hands and wear masks frequently during the Lunar New Year break. People may feel free to meet up and dine with friends and relatives, but avoid contact with strangers or big gatherings. They also urge everyone to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Current research shows that people who have been vaccinated can reduce the risk of severe illness and death after being infected. 

 

一名30多歲本國籍男性、案16870，12月初從美國入境，隔天出現喉嚨痛等症狀，當時醫師視訊後並未通報篩檢，直到案16859確診後，經回溯採檢相關人員，才找出案16870。有專家懷疑，兩人住同一家防疫旅館確診新冠肺炎，兩人又住隔壁房，不排除是旅館內感染，必須藉由兩人基因定序才能釐清。

疫情指揮中心專家諮詢小組委員李秉穎表示:「我們第一個先要去確認，它的基因序列是不是一樣的，它是不是交叉感染，或者是說各自帶病毒從國外回來，這個我們要釐清。再過來的話，如果沒有面對面接觸的話，就要注意環境（汙染）。」

此外，也有醫師認為，目前全球流行Omicron病毒株，境外移入旅客是高風險族群，不管是居家檢疫或居家隔離期間出現症狀，都一定要做篩檢，現在比較擔心的是，春節檢疫新制中的「7+7」方案，最後七天返家做加強版居家檢疫，民眾是否會落實，對國內疫情是一大考驗。

新光醫院家醫科醫師柳朋馳指出:「假如他後面的第二個七天沒有嚴格去執行所謂居家檢疫隔離政策時，這時候當然就會造成社區傳染的壓力機會，就會比較大一點點。」

醫師建議民眾，春節期間還是要勤洗手、戴口罩，可以跟親友餐敘，但避免跟陌生人接觸或聚會，另外也呼籲大家儘快打疫苗，至少目前研究顯示，打過疫苗者，可以降低染疫後、重症及死亡的風險。