In the case of taxi drivers gathering in Pingtung, there was a case where relatives were grandparents who had returned to Taiwan from Peru. The command center said today that according to the latest genetic sequencing, Peru’s grandchildren were infected with the Delta mutant strain (formerly known as the Indian mutant virus); there were 7 confirmed local cases related to taxi drivers who had carried this pair of descendants and grandchildren, including one case. It is a neighbor of Peru's grandchildren, and it is indeed impossible to rule out that the Delta mutant is related to this local cluster.
The global new crown pneumonia (coronavirus disease 2019, COVID-19) epidemic is severe. Recently, it has been reported that the mutant strain Lambda, which was first discovered in Peru, has spread globally. A taxi driver in Taiwan was diagnosed a few days ago. The epidemic investigation revealed that the relatives of the passengers were grandparents who had returned to Taiwan from Peru. The outside world is worried about whether the Lambda variant has invaded Taiwan.
Chen Shizhong, the commander of the Central Epidemic Command Center, said at an epidemic press conference this afternoon that according to the latest genetic sequencing results, the two people who entered the country from Peru were infected with the Delta variant that was first discovered in India, plus 5 previously. Delta mutant strains were detected in cases of imported cases, and a total of 7 cases were infected with Delta mutant strains, but all of them were imported cases.
Luo Yijun, deputy head of the medical response team of the command center, pointed out that according to the epidemic investigation, there are currently 7 local cases related to taxi drivers, including 2 family clusters. Since one of the cases is a neighbor of Peru’s grandparents, it is indeed impossible. The exclusion of the Delta variant is related to this indigenous clustering.
However, Chen Shizhong said that up to now, only Peruvian grandparents have completed the genetic sequencing of the virus, and the genetic sequencing of the remaining cases is still under examination. Whether it is a Delta mutant strain has yet to be clarified.
Luo Yijun said that in response to the entire incident, the command center will not only strengthen epidemic investigation and list contacts, but also strengthen border control and community inspections.
