On March 5, 2020, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) confirmed one local case and one imported case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Taiwan. With the two new confirmed cases, there have been a total of 44 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Taiwan. With respect to the 43rd and 44th confirmed cases, Case #43 is an over-50-year-old female who resides in northern Taiwan and had contact with Case #39 (an imported case) before Case #39’s diagnosis with COVID-19. Case #43 didn’t travel abroad recently but she sat across from Case #39 in floral design classes on February 24 and February 25. Related investigation suggested that it is a cluster linked to Case #39.

Case #44 is an over-30-year-old male who resides in northern Taiwan. He traveled to the Philippines with his friends from February 28 to March 3. He had diarrhea in the Philippines on March 2. After he returned to Taiwan, Case #44 went to a clinic due to having a dry throat and tiredness on March 3. He went to a hospital and was reported as a suspected case on March 4. Infection with COVID-19 was laboratory-confirmed in the case on March 5. Related investigation suggested it is an imported case linked to the Philippines.