Taiwan reported 334 new local cases of COVID-19 on Monday, along with five imported cases. The vast majority of the cases continue to be in the greater Taipei area in northern Taiwan.
The country also reported six more deaths from the virus, bringing the death toll from the beginning of the pandemic to 29. The deceased include four men and two women, all above the age of 60. At least four of them had pre-existing conditions.
The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) also reported an additional 256 backlogged cases for days earlier in the week.
Health Minister Chen Shih-chung says that looking at the adjusted daily totals from the past week, it appears that the outbreak hit a peak on May 17. He says that the daily totals also suggest that the situation is stable, but declined to say whether they would extend Level 3 restrictions beyond Friday.
The newly adjusted daily totals are as follows:
5/14 29 -> 30 (+1)
5/15 180 -> 185 (+5)
5/16 257 -> 269 (+12)
5/17 441 -> 476 (+35)
5/18 355 -> 382 (+27)
5/19 391 -> 431 (+40)
5/20 375 -> 405 (+30)
5/21 363 -> 385 (+22)
5/22 353 -> 380 (+27)
5/23 287 -> 344 (+57)
5/24 334
Of the 334 new local cases announced on Monday, 157 were men and 177 were women. They began experiencing symptoms between May 10-23.
The Monday totals (by city/county) are as follows:
New Taipei City: 177 (including 43 in Banqiao)
Taipei City: 99 (including 38 in Wanhua)
Taoyuan City: 19
Changhua County: 12
Keelung City: 7
Taichung City: 7
Kaohsiung City: 5
Pingtung County: 3
Tainan City: 3
Hsinchu County: 1
Nantou County: 1
Of the 256 backlogged cases added to daily totals this past week, 157 were men and 99 were women. They began experiencing symptoms between May 14-22. Here is the breakdown by city/county:
Taipei City: 148 (including 76 in Wanhua)
New Taipei City: 99 (including 34 in Banqiao)
Taoyuan City: 6
Miaoli County: 2
Taichung City: 1
As for the source of the 590 local cases announced on Monday (including backlogged cases), 200 had a travel history in Taipei’s Wanhua District. Another 34 cases are connected to tea parlors (adult entertainment venues), six to a Lion’s Club cluster, and six to a fruit stand. A specific source of transmission is known for 138 cases, the source is unknown for 101, and 105 cases are still under investigation.
Taiwan also recorded five imported cases of COVID-19 on Monday. They include three travelers from India, one from Nepal, and one from the Philippines.