National Taiwan University Hospital Vice Superintendent Wang Tyng-guey said on Wednesday morning that ten hospital staff have tested positive for COVID-19. National Taiwan University Hospital is Taiwan’s premier hospital.
Wang says that a hospital maintenance worker began showing symptoms on Tuesday morning. He later tested positive for COVID-19. The hospital notified its departments and immediately disinfected the premises. The hospital is testing all of its staff -- some 6,000 to 7,000 people. So far, 36 people have been tested, nine of which returned positive results.
Wang says that most of those who tested positive work in the same office. He says that the hospital hopes to finish testing everyone within 48 hours.
In the meantime, the hospital will suspend all non-urgent surgeries and reduce the number of patients it sees. The hospital says that it will move its COVID-19 patients exhibiting mild symptoms to other medical facilities. However, it also says that it will continue to take in and treat those suffering from severe cases of COVID-19.