A cluster of COVID-19 cases in Taiwan is believed to have originated from a Kiwi pilot, according to Taiwanese health officials.
On Sunday (local time), Taiwan's Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced that two cases - pilots for cargo aircraft - are believed to be linked to a pilot from New Zealand, who reportedly travelled around northern Taiwan while infectious from December 8 to 11.
Taiwan News, an English-language news website, said the alleged connection between the infections and the Kiwi pilot was first announced during a press conference on Friday (local time).
CECC spokesman Chuang Jen-hsiang told reporters officials believe a female Taiwanese pilot in her 30s and a male Japanese pilot in his 20s had contracted the virus from the Kiwi male aviator, aged in his 60s, Taiwan News reports.
According to the site, Chuang told the press that the Kiwi had travelled to the US on November 29, where it's understood he became infected. He flew back to Taiwan on December 4.
After quarantining for three days upon his arrival - which is standard protocol for pilots entering the country - the Kiwi reportedly embarked on a four-day solo trip around northern Taiwan from December 8 to December 11.
According to Taiwan News, the man's movements are under investigation by the CECC and local police. Officials are also working to identify the man's close contacts over those four days.
On December 12, the man - who authorities believe was still infectious at the time - reportedly travelled back to the US with the Taiwanese and Japanese pilots. The three returned to Taiwan on December 15 and the female pilot tested positive for COVID-19 three days later.
As the two male pilots had been listed as close contacts, they were also tested that day. On December 20, the Kiwi pilot was officially diagnosed with COVID-19 with a higher CT value, indicating a weak positive result.
At the time of the press conference, 89 contacts of the pilot cluster had been identified and 54 had undergone testing.
As reported by Taiwan News, the Kiwi man did not wear a face covering for the duration of the flight with the copilots - however, they both were masked. Chuang noted at the press conference that face coverings are commonly worn in both Taiwan and Japan, but it's not a cultural norm in New Zealand.
As of Sunday (local time), the CECC was investigating when the man contracted the virus and whether he was presenting symptoms of December 12, the day the three pilots flew to the US.
The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment have been contacted for comment.
