Taiwan reports 3 new imported COVID-19 cases

ROC Central News Agency

12/05/2020 04:28 PM

Taipei, Dec. 5 (CNA) Taiwan on Saturday reported three additional imported COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to 693 since the pandemic broke out at the end of last year, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).

The CECC said one of the three was a Taiwanese woman, in her 30s, who returned home Nov. 19 from Ireland, where she has pursued a degree since July and was confirmed as having contracted COVID-19 Saturday.

The woman developed a mild itchy throat after returning to Taiwan, but her symptoms improved during her stay in a quarantine hotel.

However, on Nov. 25, she learned one of her friends in Ireland tested positive for COVID-19 and soon after started to develop an abnormal sense of smell.

The woman reported her condition to the health authorities and took a test before being confirmed as having been infected, the CECC said.

The CECC said it has traced 10 people who had contact with the woman, and one has been placed in home quarantine with the other nine subject to self-health management.

The second case was a German man, in his 30s, who came to Taiwan on Nov. 29 to visit family, the CECC said.

Upon arriving in Taiwan the man presented a negative test report, which was taken over the previous 72 hours and had no symptoms, the CECC said, adding that he was then placed in a quarantine hotel.

However, the man develop a headache, runny nose and chills on Dec. 3, and took a test, the CECC said.

He informed the CECC about contacts with people affected by COVID-19 in Germany on Nov. 28 and was confirmed as have contracted the virus Saturday.

As those who had contact with the man during his quarantine in Taiwan adopted protective measures, the CECC said, none of them had to been traced.

The third case involves a Taiwanese man, also in his 30s, who started to experience fatigue, a fever and diarrhea on Oct. 12 when working in Indonesia, but felt better by Oct. 21, the CECC said.

He returned to Taiwan on Nov. 8 and was placed in quarantine, during which time he developed no symptoms.

Since the Taiwanese man needed to return to Indonesia to work, however, he took a self-paid test on Dec. 2 which confirmed Saturday he had contracted the disease, the CECC added.

The CECC said a total of six people have been traced after coming into contact with the man with three placed in home quarantine and the others under self-health management.

To date, Taiwan has recorded 693 cases of COVID-19, 601 of which have been classified as imported. Of the total, 574 patients have recovered, seven have died and 112 are currently hospitalized, according to CECC statistics as of Saturday.

(By Chen Wei-ting and Frances Huang)

Enditem/AW