Zhang Yu

JeniZhang13@163.com

THE Shenzhen Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention announced the discovery of three nonimported cases of novel coronavirus in the city at a briefing yesterday afternoon.

All three patients had neither left Shenzhen nor made contact with infected or suspected cases within one full incubation period (14 days) before the onset of their illness. Moreover, to their knowledge they had not been exposed to people showing symptoms of acute respiratory infection.

The first case is an elderly female. According to an epidemiological investigation, she had neither a history of exposure nor contact with virus carriers.

Further conclusions have yet to be drawn as the patient refuses to cooperate with the investigation, said the Shenzhen CDC.

The second case is a young female. An investigation showed that she had eaten out and been to the gym and other places prior to the onset of her symptoms.

The third case is a young male who works as a food deliveryman. He had been delivering food in Shenzhen before the onset of his symptoms.

Kong Dongfeng, deputy chief physician of the Shenzhen CDC, said the three cases, which account for only 2 percent of the total cases in Shenzhen, are sporadic in light of the current monitoring and containment measures. The majority of the confirmed cases in Shenzhen are imported cases.

Kong added that these three cases may have come into contact with infectious agents or articles of the infectious agent in their daily lives without knowing it.

“The nonimported cases remind us that we need to be more careful in our investigations and conclusions and draw up a list of close contacts,” said Kong.

Kong reiterated that confirmed cases must cooperate with the CDC and complete the epidemiological investigation as well as report their recent whereabouts. Individuals who conceal their contact history and cause the spread of the epidemic will face a maximum sentence of seven years, according to the law.

Residents are advised to wash their hands frequently, stay away from large crowds, open windows for ventilation and wear face masks when going out.

As of 12 a.m. yesterday, a total of 207 confirmed cases of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus were reported in Shenzhen, including 97 male patients and 110 female patients.