PublishTime：2020-03-27

On March 27, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced 15 new confirmed imported cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Taiwan. Among the 15 imported cases (Cases #253-267), six patients are women and nine patients are men, with their ages ranging between 10 and 69 years old. These patients entered Taiwan between March 15 and March 25 and displayed symptoms between March 8 and March 25. Most of these patients had traveled to the United Kingdom (seven patients) and the United States (six patients) before the onset of disease. The patients went overseas mainly for work (eight patients) or study (five patients).Case #254 went to the United States for study in August of 2019, and visited a friend who also studied abroad in the United States (Case #218, displaying symptoms on March 17) from March 5 to March 19. Case #254 developed symptoms on March 20. When returning to Taiwan on March 24, the specimen of the patient was collected at the airport. Infection with COVID-19 was laboratory-confirmed in the case on March 27. Cases #257 and #258 studied in the same department of an education institution in the United Kingdom. Case #257 developed symptoms on March 10. When returning to Taiwan on March 24, the specimen of the patient was collected at the airport. Case #258 was in home quarantine after entering Taiwan on March 22. After Case #258 developed symptoms on March 23, health agencies arranged medical care for the patient who was then tested for COVID-19. Infection with COVID-19 was laboratory-confirmed in the case on March 27.Cases #264 and #267 are a couple who traveled to the United Kingdom for work from March 8 and March 25. They had symptoms between March 20 and March 23. When returning to Taiwan on March 25, the specimens of the two patients were collected at the airport. Infection with COVID-19 was laboratory-confirmed in the cases on March 27.