The eighth confirmed coronavirus case in Macau has been classified as an imported case, said the Macau Health Bureau (SSM) on Sunday.
In prior official media reports, this case was considered a locally acquired one because the patient is from Macau.
The SSM said the patient, a 64-year-old female resident of Macau, was hospitalized at a Zhuhai Hospital between the 10th and 17th of January and days later went to Sanxiang in Zhongshan where she bought live poultry in a local market. She began to show symptoms on the 27th of January when she had already returned to Macau, proceeding to get a checkup at a local hospital.
Local health authorities said that based on the epidemiological data, there is a high possibility that the patient was infected with the novel coronavirus in Zhuhai or Zhongshan, and not in Macau.
Based on this possibility, authorities have decided that for the time being, this case will be considered imported and not a local one.
Nevertheless, the Health Bureau will continue to monitor those who have been in close contact with the patient.
