CECC confirms 3 more imported COVID-19 cases; cases arrive in Taiwan from Philippines


On October 20, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced three new confirmed imported cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Taiwan. Those three new cases are a Filipina in her 20s (Case #541), a Filipino man in his 20s (Case #542), and a Taiwanese man in his 50s (Case #543). They all entered Taiwan from the Philippines.

Case #541 and Case #542 took the same flight to Taiwan for work on October 5. The two cases underwent quarantine at a group quarantine facility after entry. They haven't developed any suspected symptoms since entry. They both took a COVID-19 test on October 18 before completing the quarantine period. Infection with COVID-19 was laboratory-confirmed in the cases on October 20.

Case #543 worked in the Philippines for an extended period of time. The Taiwanese man experienced a mild fever, muscle pain, coughing, and breathing difficulties on October 5. On October 15, he sought medical attention and was diagnosed with pneumonia in the Philippines. However, the case wasn't admitted to a hospital for medical treatment. He only took medications and underwent COVID-19 testing (on October 19, he found out that the test result was positive). The case traveled back to Taiwan from the Philippines on October 18. He voluntarily notified airport quarantine officers of his respiratory symptoms upon arrival. After he had his specimen collected upon arrival, the case was admitted to a hospital in isolation for treatment. Infection with COVID-19 was laboratory-confirmed in the case on October 20.

The CECC reported that a cumulative total of 99,367 cases related to COVID-19 have been reported in Taiwan among which COVID-19 has been ruled out in 98,102. Of these reported cases, infection with COVID-19 was laboratory-confirmed in 543 cases. Of the 543 confirmed cases, 451 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 495 patients have been released from isolation, with the other 41 patients remaining hospitalized in isolation.

PublishTime 2020/10/20