No new coronavirus cases in Shanghai, two children discharged
No additional cases were reported in Shanghai on Friday morning, said Shanghai Health Commission.
Another four suspected cases were ruled out and three patients, including two children, were discharged upon recovery in the latest 12 hours as of midday Friday, the commission said.
So far, the city has reported a total of 346 cases. Among all confirmed patients, aged between 7 months and 88 years old, 145 have traveled or lived in Hubei Province, 34 have traveled or lived in other regions, 159 had contact history with infected persons, four have lived in Iran, three have lived in Italy and one in the US.
A total of 111 patients are from other Chinese cities, eight are from overseas and 227 are local residents, referring to those with registered residency and people staying in the city for over six months.
According to the local health commission, there are still 19 patients being treated at hospitals. Among them, 10 are stable, one is serious and eight are in critical condition. A total of 324 patients have recovered and been discharged from hospital.
There have been three local fatalities so far.
Another 34 suspected cases, including 16 from overseas, are undergoing tests, the commission said.
With the discharge of the two children on Friday, all confirmed juvenile patients being infected with coronavirus have been cured and released in the city.
A nurse cares for a 23-month-old girl with coronavirus in the isolation ward of the Children's Hospital of Fudan University.
The 10-year-old boy and his 23-month-old sister are from the same family, among which eight out of nine members were infected with coronavirus.
The family from Hubei Province arrived in Shanghai on January 23 after taking a cruise to Japan and then stayed at a local hotel. They were sent to a designated place for medical observation after the community found they arrived from Hubei, the heart of the epidemic, on January 26.
The grandfather went to a hospital with symptoms on February 12 and was confirmed with infection the following day. Seven other members, including the two children, were confirmed infection on February 14; while only a 3-year-old boy tested negative for the virus.
“We were hospitalized in the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, while my two children were hospitalized in the children’s hospital,” said the children’s father, who is surnamed Xu. “Doctors and nurses sent me their pictures and videos frequently and updated me on their treatment. This is such a relief for me and my family. I am very grateful for their care of my children, who even gained weight upon discharge.”
Dr Huang Guoying, president of the Children’s Hospital of Fudan University, the designated hospital for children with coronavirus, said the hospital has received 11 confirmed juvenile patients, six boys and five girls, since January 19. Most caught the virus through family gatherings.
In order to take good care of child patients, who must leave their parents, doctors and nurses provide extra care and companionship. "We are not only medical staff but also their 'moms.' In addition to giving treatment, we play with them and cheer them up during hospitalization," said Xia Aimei, head nurse of the infectious disease department.
Doctors and nurses bid farewell to a 23-month-old girl, who is discharged along with her brother on Friday.
Doctors and nurses take a picture with a 10-year-old boy and his 23-month-old sister as they are discharged on Friday.
