Taiwan reported a total of 343 COVID-19 cases on Saturday, including 335 new domestic cases and eight backlogged cases. They contracted the disease between May 24 and June 5.
The country also reported 36 more deaths from the virus. Those included 22 men and 14 women aged 50 and over. They were confirmed to have the virus between May 13 and June 5 and died between May 27 and June 4. Of the deceased, almost 90% had chronic health issues.
The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) says that beginning Monday, they will stop announcing backlogged cases. That’s because most of them have been processed.
The Saturday totals by city and county are as follows:
New Taipei City: 160
Miaoli County: 75
Taipei City: 64
Taoyuan City: 16
Yilan County: 9
Yunlin County: 3
Kaohsiung City: 3
Changhua County: 3
Hsinchu County: 3
Keelung City: 2
Taichung City: 2
Tainan City: 2
Chiayi City: 1
Of the 119 cases outside of Greater Taipei, a source is known for 107 cases, unknown for seven cases and five cases are still being investigated.
Health Minister Chen Shih-chung has also thanked the three US senators who arrived in Taiwan on Sunday morning. The senators announced that the United States would donate 750,000 COVID-19 vaccines to Taiwan.
Officials say that Taiwan will prioritize high risk groups for the vaccine doses already in circulation. When the recent deliveries of Moderna and AstraZeneca vaccines go into use on June 15, authorities will consider expanding vaccine eligibility. Chen also says that Taiwan should have at least two million vaccine doses coming in this month.
Regarding the outbreaks in factories in Miaoli County, Chen says authorities have asked all of their migrant workers to quarantine at home. The workers will be on paid leave. Officials have also asked other employees to monitor their health.
The CECC says local authorities will tighten crowd control measures at traditional markets and limit their operating hours. It is calling on people not to shop at the markets for more than an hour.
Officials are also urging people not to travel during the Dragon Boat Festival, which falls on June 14.
Taiwan has a total of 11,298 confirmed cases including 1,145 imported cases, 10,100 domestic cases, 36 from a cluster among navy personnel, two from an aircraft and the rest from unknown sources. Taiwan has seen a total of 260 deaths from COVID-19.