Taiwan records new COVID-19 case for second day this week

ROC Central News Agency

07/03/2020 03:54 PM

Taipei, July 3 (CNA) A new case of the COVID-19 coronavirus disease was reported in Taiwan on Friday, marking a second day imported infections have been confirmed this week, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).

The latest case is a man in his 50s who frequently visits South Africa for work. The man had returned to Taiwan on Wednesday after traveling to the country in September last year, the CECC said in a statement.

The man wanted to visit relatives in Taiwan, so he took a COVID-19 test in South Africa and was notified of a negative result on June 27, the CECC said.

However, later on the same day, he showed symptoms of fever, fatigue, and sensations in his throat, and was later diagnosed with having a common cold after seeking medical treatment in South Africa on June 28, the CECC said.

He felt better on June 30 after taking medication, and embarked on the trip to Taiwan, transferring via Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, the CECC said.

The man was asymptomatic when he landed in Taiwan on July 1, but told airport health authorities of the common cold symptoms he had experienced within the last fortnight, the CECC said.

After being tested , he was quarantined and started receiving treatment at a hospital Friday when he was confirmed to be positive, the CECC said, adding that an X-ray showed signs of pneumonia.

Meanwhile, a total of 13 passengers who sat near the man have also been placed under home isolation, the CECC said.

On Thursday, Taiwan had also confirmed an imported case of the coronavirus when a man in his 50s tested positive after he returned from work commitments in Mexico.

To date, 358 of Taiwan's 449 cases of COVID-19 have been classified as imported, while 55 are believed to be local infections, according to CECC statistics.

The other 36 cases were aboard a Navy vessel that was on a goodwill mission in the Pacific in March, but the CECC has said that cluster infection originated in Taiwan.

Since April 12, Taiwan has not recorded any locally transmitted cases, according to CECC data.

So far, 438 COVID-19 patients in Taiwan have recovered, and seven have died, the CECC said.

Globally, COVID-19 has infected 10,833,507 people in 187 countries and regions, including 2,784,679 in the United States, 1,496,858 in Brazil, 661,165 in Russia, 604,641 in India, and 283,757 in the United Kingdom, with a total of 521,161 fatalities, according to CECC statistics as of Friday.

(By William Yen)

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