Seven people have tested positive for COVID-19 at Far Eastern Memorial Hospital in New Taipei City. Those cases include hospital patients and a caregiver. 

New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi urged the public to remain calm, saying that authorities have the situation under control and have figured out the source of the infections. He says that rapid tests have come back negative for all of the medical staff who came in contact with people who were infected. The hospital has also conducted a thorough disinfection of the premises. 

New Taipei City health officials say that one of the patients in the hospital had a travel history in Taipei City’s Wanhua District, which is the center of a major outbreak. They say that once that patient was diagnosed with COVID, the hospital worked quickly to stem the spread. 

The patient in question was admitted to the emergency ward at Far Eastern on May 10. The patient began to experience a fever on May 12, and authorities learned the following day about the patient’s travel history to an adult entertainment venue in Wanhua. A positive COVID test for the patient came back on May 14, prompting wider testing of contacts at the hospital. Those rapid tests have produced seven infections. 

So far, rapid tests on the medical staff have produced zero positive results. About 60 staff members are now being tested using PCR tests. 

Far Eastern has cordoned off wards to deal with COVID cases and is not admitting new patients. Health authorities say that the hospital is still open for business, but at a reduced capacity.