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CECC confirms 19 more imported COVID-19 cases; all cases linked to studying, working, traveling abroad

  • Data Source:Centers for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Welfare
  • Created:2020-03-25
  • Last Updated:2020-03-26

On March 25, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced 19 new confirmed imported cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Taiwan. Among the 19 imported cases (Cases #217-235), 12 patients are women and seven are men, with their ages ranging between 10 and 69 years old. These patients entered Taiwan between March 12 and March 22 and displayed symptoms between March 15 and March 23. The countries these patients had traveled to before the onset of disease include Belgium, Egypt, France, Thailand, Turkey, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States. 

With respect to Cases #222-225, the four patients studied abroad at the same education institution in the United Kingdom as Case #152. They were detected at the airport and reported to health agencies when entering Taiwan on March 22. Infection with COVID-19 was laboratory-confirmed in the cases on March 25. Related investigations suggest that it is a cluster infections on campus. Case #226 is a member of a travel group to Egypt. During the home isolation period, the patient had a dry throat on March 21, and health officials arranged medical care for the patient who was then tested for COVID-19. Infection with COVID-19 was laboratory-confirmed in the case on March 25. A total of ten individuals in the cluster involving the tour group have been diagnosed with COVID-19 (nine group members, one contact).

Case #233 visited the United Kingdom for study in December of 2019. The patient didn’t show any symptoms when arriving in Taiwan, and returned home for home quarantine. The patient developed symptoms on March 23. Health officials arranged medical care for the patient who was then tested for COVID-19. Infection with COVID-19 was laboratory-confirmed in the case on March 25. The remaining 13 cases are not linked to other confirmed cases.