On October 24, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced two new confirmed imported cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Taiwan. Those two new cases (Case #549 and Case #550) entered Taiwan from the Philippines and the United States, respectively.

Case #549 is a Philippine woman in her 20s. The case entered Taiwan for work on September 30. She didn’t develop any symptoms upon arrival and remained asymptomatic until the end of the group quarantine period. The case underwent COVID-19 testing on October 13 before completing the quarantine period, and the test result came back negative. After the quarantine period, she stayed at a designated dormitory arranged by her employment agency for self-health management. She visited the hospital to take a COVID-19 test at her own expense on October 22. Infection with COVID-19 was laboratory-confirmed in the case on October 24.

Case #550 is a Taiwanese man in his 30s. The case traveled to the United States on October 2 and returned to Taiwan on October 18. He had no physical discomfort upon arrival. During the home quarantine period, the case developed a fever, coughing, muscle pain, joint pain, and fatigue. The health authority then arranged for him to seek medical attention and take a COVID-19 test. Infection with COVID-19 was laboratory-confirmed in the case on October 24. The case is currently hospitalized in isolation.

The CECC reported that a cumulative total of 100,306 cases related to COVID-19 have been reported in Taiwan among which COVID-19 has been ruled out in 99,044. Of these reported cases, infection with COVID-19 was laboratory-confirmed in 550 cases. Of the 550 confirmed cases, 458 are imported; 55 are indigenous; 36 are naval crew members aboard the Panshi fast combat support ship; and 1 case has unknown sources of infection. Of the confirmed cases, there have been 7 deaths, and 502 patients have been released from isolation, with the other 41 patients remaining hospitalized in isolation.