On December 5, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced 3 new confirmed imported cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Taiwan. Those 3 new cases (Case #692-694) arrived in Taiwan from Ireland, Germany, and Indonesia.

Case #692 is a Taiwanese woman in her 30s. The Taiwanese woman visited Ireland for studies in July. After she returned to Taiwan on November 19, she stayed at a quarantine hotel. She began to realize she was experiencing an abnormal sense of smell on November 25 when she was notified that her Irish friend had been diagnosed with COVID-19. The woman then voluntarily notified the health authority of her symptom, and her COVID-19 testing was arranged. She then tested negative. However, her symptom didn’t improve so she was tested again. Infection with COVID-19 was laboratory-confirmed in the case on December 5.

Case #693 is an over 30-year-old man from Germany. The German man came to Taiwan to visit relatives on November 29. He didn’t show any symptoms when entering Taiwan. After entry, he stayed at a quarantine hotel to undergo home quarantine. The German man told the health authority that he had come into contact with confirmed cases in Germany on November 28. He began to develop a headache, chills, and other symptoms on December 3. The health authority then arranged his medical care and COVID-19 testing. Infection with COVID-19 was laboratory-confirmed in the case on December 5.

Case #694 is a Taiwanese man in his 30s. He visited Indonesia for work in mid-August, and he began to develop fatigue, a fever, and other symptoms on October 12. He thought his symptoms improved on November 21. After he entered Taiwan on November 8, he underwent home quarantine. He didn’t experience any discomfort during the home quarantine period. Because he needed to travel to Indonesia to work, he took a self-paid COVID-19 test on December 2. Infection with COVID-19 was laboratory-confirmed in the case on December 5, and the Ct value was 34.

The CECC reported that a cumulative total of 112,412 cases related to COVID-19 have been reported in Taiwan among which COVID-19 has been ruled out in 110,417. Of these reported cases, infection with COVID-19 was laboratory-confirmed in 693 cases. Of the 693 confirmed cases, 601 are imported; 55 are indigenous; 36 are naval crew members aboard the Panshi fast combat support ship; 1 case has unknown sources of infection; and 1 case (Case #530) has been removed (Case #530 is not assigned to any patients). Of the confirmed cases, there have been 7 deaths, and 574 patients have been released from isolation, with the other 112 patients remaining hospitalized in isolation.