Taiwan saw 287 new domestic and three imported cases of COVID-19 on Sunday.
The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) also reported an additional 170 backlogged cases for days earlier in the week.
Six more people have died of COVID-19 in Taiwan, bringing the death toll from the beginning of the pandemic to 23.
Of the 457 local cases announced on Sunday, 222 were men and 235 were women. They contracted the virus between April 25-May 22.
Many people have had questions about the backlog of cases announced this weekend. Health Minister Chen Shih-chung said he wished there was no backlog, and that they are working to rectify issues with the system for reporting new cases. They have simplified the reporting process for hospitals, which can now connect with the Centers for Disease Control using National Health Insurance cards. Already, 60% of medical institutions are connected. They are also working to enable the public to check on the number of new cases in real time.
The newly adjusted daily totals from the past week are as follows:
5/16 245 -> 257 cases
5/17 406 -> 441 cases
5/18 325 -> 355 cases
5/19 359 -> 391 cases
5/20 360 -> 375 cases
5/21 349 -> 363 cases
5/22 321-> 353 cases
5/23 287 cases
Of the 457 domestic cases announced on Sunday, the total by city and county are as follows:
New Taipei City: 215 (49 in Banqiao District)
Taipei City: 165 (86 in Wanhua District)
Taoyuan City: 23
Pingtung County: 8
Nantou County: 8
Yilan County: 7
Changhua County: 11
Taichung City: 5
Keelung City: 5
Hsinchu City: 2
Tainan City: 2
Yunlin County: 2
Chiayi County: 1
Chiayi City: 1
Hsinchu County: 1
Hualien County: 1
Of the 457 cases announced on Sunday, 161 had been to Wanhua District, 25 are related to tea parlors (adult entertainment venues), five are related to a social club, and 11 to a fruit business. The specific source of transmission is known for 119 cases and the rest are under investigation.
The six deaths reported on Sunday include five men and one woman aged from 50 to over 80. They contracted the disease between May 10-20. The five men had a history of chronic illnesses. The woman who died was in her 80s. She reported trouble breathing on May 17 and died on May 20.
To date, Taiwan has recorded 1,111 imported cases, 3,158 domestic cases, 36 cases from a navy ship, two from an aircraft, one from an unknown source, and 14 that are still under investigation. A total of 23 people have died from the coronavirus in Taiwan.
Minister Chen says it will be important to watch the figures this coming week to see if they decrease, signalling that Taiwan is containing the outbreak. CECC official Chang Shan-chwen says that if the numbers continue at the current rate, it suggests ongoing community transmission.