PublishTime：2020-03-22

On March 22, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced 16 new confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Taiwan, with 13 being imported and the other 3 being indigenous. Cases #154-169 are between 10 and 79 years old. These patients entered Taiwan between March 10 and March 20 and displayed symptoms between March 7 and March 20. The countries these patients had traveled to before the onset of disease include Denmark, France, Egypt, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, the Philippines, the United Kingdom and the United States.Case #156 is one of the three indigenous cases confirmed today. Case #156 sought medical attention on March 16 and was tested for COVID-19 on March 20. Infection with COVID-19 was laboratory-confirmed in the case on March 22. Cases #161 and 162 were members of the same tour group to Egypt as Case #71. The two patients were identified as contacts related to the tour group. The patients developed symptoms, and sent to the hospital for COVID- testing on March 20 when they were in home isolation. Infection with COVID-19 was laboratory-confirmed in the cases on March 22. As of now, nine individuals in the cluster involving the travel group have been diagnosed with COVID-19 (eight group members, one contact).Cases #160, #168 and #169 are contacts of Case #124. Case #160 traveled to the United States for work from March 1 to March 10. The patient went to a clinic for having a headache on March 14 after returning to Taiwan. The patient was listed as a contact of Case #124 on March 20, and was then tested for coronavirus. Infection with COVID-19 was laboratory-confirmed in the case on March 22.With respect to the remaining 10 imported cases, most of the patients went overseas for study or work, while several of them went abroad for travel or visiting relatives.