Taiwan confirmed five new imported cases of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the total to 393. Four of the new cases were passengers on the Coral Princess cruise ship and are all over 50 years old. They were quarantined upon returning to Taiwan on April 11. Three other Taiwanese passengers on the ship have tested negative and are still in quarantine.
Case 393 worked in the US and showed symptoms upon arrival in Taiwan on April 11. She is over 60 years old and is the wife of case 384. She was sent directly to the hospital from the airport and was confirmed to have COVID-19 on April 13.
Taiwan has 338 imported cases of COVID-19 and 55 domestic cases. Six patients have died while 114 have recovered and have been released from the hospital. The rest are still being treated in isolation wards.
Meanwhile, Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) Director Chen Shih-chung said on Monday that Taiwan has distributed 668 million face masks. Half of them have been allotted in the national mask rationing program. About 130 million have been given to hospitals, schools, and government offices. The rest are reserved for hospital and post office staff.
Chen said Taiwan will continue to ban the export of surgical masks through the end of June.