TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) on Monday (July 12) reported 23 new local COVID-19 cases, marking the 18th day in a row with fewer than 100 confirmed infections.
At a press briefing on Monday, Health Minister and CECC head Chen Shih-chung (陳時中) announced 24 new coronavirus cases, including 23 local and one imported. He also announced one death, bringing the country's COVID death toll to 741.
Local cases
The latest local cases include 13 males and 10 females between the ages of 10 and 90, with the dates of symptom onset and testing ranging from June 20 to July 11. As for the distribution of these cases, 10 were in New Taipei City; nine were in Taipei; and one each were in the cities of Keelung, Taoyuan, Hsinchu, and Taichung.
Epidemiological investigations determined that of these cases, 17 are from known sources, four are from unknown sources, and two are still being investigated. Related investigations are ongoing.
COVID deaths
Chen said the sole death reported on Monday, case No. 2,598, was a man in his 60s who had a history of chronic disease and had come in contact with other confirmed cases. The man developed a fever and other symptoms on May 11 and sought medical attention on May 19.
He was diagnosed with COVID-19 on May 20 and was released from hospital isolation on June 11. However, he died on July 10, with the exact cause of death still under investigation.
Quarantine numbers
Chen pointed out that among the 14,019 cases announced between May 11 and July 10, 11,850, or 84.5 percent, have been released from quarantine.
Imported cases
According to Chen, the only imported case reported on Monday, case No. 15,370, is a Croatian girl under the age of 10 who returned from Switzerland on June 28. As her quarantine was set to expire on July 10, she was tested for the coronavirus, and on July 12, she was diagnosed, with a Ct value of 33.
COVID case statistics
Since the outbreak began, Taiwan has carried out 1,639,921 COVID-19 tests, with 1,622,834 coming back negative. Out of the 15,273 confirmed cases, 1,203 were imported, 14,017 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 105 people have been removed as confirmed cases, while 14 cases are still under investigation. Up until now, 741 individuals have succumbed to the disease.
Of the 733 deaths from local infections, 369 were in New Taipei; 283 in Taipei; 25 in Keelung; 21 in Taoyuan; 12 in Changhua County; nine in Hsinchu County; four in Taichung; two each in Yilan, Miaoli, and Hualien counties; and one each in Taitung and Yunlin counties and Kaohsiung. The eight other deaths were imported cases.
