TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) on Thursday (May 27) reported 405 new coronavirus cases, 266 backlog cases, and a record 13 deaths, bringing the country's death toll to 59.

At a press conference that afternoon, Health Minister and CECC head Chen Shih-chung (陳時中) announced 405 coronavirus cases, including four imported and 401 local infections, the most reported in a single day since the start of the pandemic. Chen also announced 13 deaths and 266 cases that had been added retroactively, resulting in a total of 671 cases reported that day.

Local cases

The latest local cases include 190 males and 211 females between the ages of five and 100, with the dates of symptom onset and testing ranging from April 26 to May 26. Of the cases, 177 were in New Taipei City, 130 in Taipei, 18 in Taoyuan, 15 in Keelung, 14 in Kaohsiung, 10 in Changhua County, seven in Taichung, six in Hualien County, five each in Yilan and Hsinchu counties, four in Taitung County, three in Pingtung County, two each in Chiayi and Lienchiang counties, and one each in Miaoli, Nantou, and Yunlin counties.

The 266 retroactively added cases include 140 males and 126 females between the ages of five and 90, with the dates of symptom onset and testing ranging from May 15 to May 26. The distribution of the cases is as follows: 146 in New Taipei City, 101 in Taipei, five in Yilan County, four in Taoyuan County, three each in Changhua County and Taichung, two in Keelung, and one case each in Chiayi City and Tainan.

Epidemiological investigations found that 152 cases had recently been in Taipei's Wanhua, with 25 associated with tea parlors in that district. Another six cases are members of the Lions Club International group.

There are 117 cases still under investigation, with 222 from other known sources and 145 from unknown sources. Related epidemiological investigations are ongoing.

COVID deaths

Chen said that the 13 coronavirus-related deaths reported Thursday include case Nos. 1,399, 1,753, 2,328, 2,674, 2,762, 3,039, 3,179, 3,429, 4,428, 5,676, 5,993, 6,316, and 6,503. They include nine men and four women aged 40 to 90.

The dates of symptom onset and testing ranged from May 12-25, while the date of diagnoses ranged between May 15 and 27. The dates of death ranged from May 24-26.

Among these deaths, nine patients had a history of chronic illness, and 10 had recently been to Wanhua or were contacts of confirmed cases. Related epidemiological investigations are ongoing.

Imported cases

Among the four imported cases, two were from India and two were from the Philippines. Cases 6,175 and 6,369 are Indian men in their 20s and 30s who came to Taiwan on May 24. After entering the country, they were taken to a quarantine center, where they were tested for the coronavirus, and they were diagnosed with COVID-19 on May 27.

Case Nos. 6,557 and 6,585 are Filipino men in their 20s who came to Taiwan for work on May 10 and May 26, respectively. Case No. 6,557 was diagnosed on May 27 after undergoing a self-paid test, while case No. 6,585 was diagnosed the same day following a test administered at a quarantine center.

COVID case statistics

Since the outbreak began, Taiwan has carried out 434,840 COVID-19 tests, with 381,735 coming back negative. Out of the 6,761 confirmed cases, 1,124 were imported, 5,584 were local, 36 came from the Navy's "Goodwill Fleet," two were from a cargo pilot cluster, and one was an unresolved case.

A total of 15 people have been removed as confirmed cases, while 14 cases are still under investigation. Up until now, 59 individuals have succumbed to the disease in the country.

The CECC reminds the public that under Level 3 restrictions, they are required to wear a mask at all times outside their home. It has also prohibited indoor gatherings of more than five people and outdoor gatherings of more than 10.