Taiwan confirms new imported COVID-19 case from the Philippines
ROC Central News Agency
10/30/2020 05:02 PM
Taipei, Oct. 30 (CNA) Taiwan confirmed a new case of COVID-19 Friday when a Philippine national who recently returned to work in the country tested positive while in mandatory quarantine, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said.
The 30-something migrant worker showed no symptoms when he arrived in Taiwan on Oct. 15, CECC spokesman Chuang Jen-hsiang (莊人祥) said at a press briefing in Taipei.
He was tested prior to his quarantine release on Oct. 29, with the results coming back positive on Friday, Chuang said, adding that the man is currently in hospital quarantine.
People entering Taiwan from the Philippines are no longer required to take a test for COVID-19 when they arrive but do have to take one at the end of their 14-day quarantine period.
According to the CECC, the man had previously contracted and recovered from COVID-19 while in the Philippines.
Chuang said the patient briefly returned to the Philippines on Sept. 10 to attend a friend's funeral, and during that time had come in contact with a person who later tested positive for COVID-19 there.
On Sept. 17, he was asked by local authorities to be tested for the disease, with the results coming back positive the next day, the CECC official said.
He was then isolated in a hospital in the Philippines when he developed a cough and difficulty breathing on Sept. 20.
Chuang said the man was discharged from the hospital on Oct. 3 and tested negative for COVID-19 on Oct. 9 prior to his return trip to Taiwan.
To date, Taiwan has recorded 554 cases of COVID-19, with 462 classified as imported. Of the total, 514 have recovered, seven have died and 33 are being treated in hospital, according to CECC data.
(By Chang Ming-hsuan and Ko Lin)
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