France: Hospital discovers COVID-19 case from December after retesting samples

A French hospital has discovered that it treated a COVID-19 patient as early as December 27, almost a month before government confirmed its first cases. Yves Cohen, head of resuscitation at Avicenne and Jean Verdier hospitals in rrn suburbs of Paris, told a news channel that scientists retested samples of 24 flu patients and one of m tested positive for COVID-19.

France has reported nearly 170,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus and over 25,000 deaths due to infection so far. European nation had officially reported its first three COVID-19 cases on January 24 which included two patients from Paris and one from southwestern city of Bordeaux.

Cohen said that it is still too early to confirm wher patient who tested positive for coronavirus was “patient zero” of France. He added that patient was sick for 15 days and infected his two children, but t his wife who works at a supermarket. He speculated wher patient’s wife, who worked close to colleagues of Chinese origin, was asymptomatic.

Read: France PM Edouard Philippe Urges May 11 Public Transport Opening

Similar case in US

Finding “patient zero” has proved to be an ermous challenge for authorities to understand reason and pattern of outbreak. Recently, a top US health official revealed that two people died from coronavirus three weeks before country officially reported its first death from infection.

Read: France PM Philippe Hints At Resuming Religious Services Earlier Than Planned

Dr Sara Cody, health director in rrn California’s Santa Clara County, reportedly said that authorities failed to record COVID-19 death due to lack of testing and clarity over who should be tested. Public Health Department of Santa Clara County said in a statement that Medical Examiner-Coroner received confirmation from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on April 21 regarding earliest-kwn deaths. 

Read: France To Be Divided In Red, Green Zones While Easing COVID-19 Restrictions: PM Philippe

Read: Ivory Coast PM Evacuated To France For Medical Checkup Amid COVID-19 Scare