On July 3, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced one new confirmed imported case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Taiwan. Case #449 is an over 50-year-old male who lived in South Africa due to work (the last time Case #449 departed from Taiwan was September of 2019). The case returned to Taiwan on July 1 by himself.

As the case had plans to visit his relatives in Taiwan, he underwent COVID-19 testing in South Africa (he didn’t have any symptoms when tested). The test result came back negative on the morning of June 27; however, he experienced a fever, fatigue, and globus sensation on the afternoon of the same day. The case visited a hospital for medical attention in South Africa on June 28, and he was diagnosed with a cold. The case felt that his symptoms improved on June 30 after taking medicines.

The CECC reported that the case was asymptomatic when he returned to Taiwan on July 1, and he voluntarily reported his symptoms during the past 14 days to quarantine officers at the airport. After the quarantine officers arranged his testing, the case was transported to a group quarantine facility. Infection with COVID-19 was laboratory-confirmed in the case on July 3. The case is currently hospitalized in isolation for medical treatment.

The CECC reported that a cumulative total of 77,157 cases related to COVID-19 have been reported in Taiwan among which COVID-19 has been ruled out in 76,225. Of these reported cases, infection with COVID-19 was laboratory-confirmed in 449 cases. Of 449 confirmed cases in Taiwan, 358 are imported and 55 are indigenous while 36 are naval crew members aboard the Panshi fast combat support ship.