PublishTime：2020-03-14

On March 14, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced three new confirmed imported cases (Cases #51-53) of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Taiwan. Case #51 is an over-30-year-old Dutch male who visited Austria from March 2 to March 6, and left the Netherlands for Taiwan on March 9. Case #51 entered Taiwan on March 10. He sought medical attention at the emergency department at a hospital for breathing difficulties on March 11. He was tested for COVID-19 in the hospital which reported the case to health agencies on March 12. Case #51 tested positive for COVID-19 on March 14 and is hospitalized in isolation. Preliminary investigation has identified a total of 28 individuals who had contact with the case, and 14 of 28 contacts had left Taiwan.Case #52 is an over-30-year-old Taiwanese male who resides in northern Taiwan. Case #52 transited through Turkey for Switzerland from Taiwan with his two other friends on February 28. He traveled to France from Switzerland on February 29, and took a bus back to Switzerland to catch his flight on March 7. He transited in Turkey, and returned to Taiwan on March 8. He sought medical care for his symptoms, and was tested and reported to health agencies on March 12. Infection with COVID-19 was laboratory-confirmed in the case on March 14. Case #52 is being treated in a negative pressure isolation ward. Preliminary investigation has identified a total of 39 individuals who had contact with Case #52, including his friends, passengers on the same flight back to Taiwan and persons having contact with the case at workplace and the hospital.Case #53 is an over-30-year-old Taiwanese male who resides in northern Taiwan. Case #53 visited Munich and Nuremberg, Germany from February 22 to March 6. He sought medical attention for his symptoms, and was tested and reported to health agencies on March 11. Infection with COVID-19 was laboratory-confirmed in the case on March 14. Case #53 is being treated in a negative pressure isolation ward. Preliminary investigation has identified a total of 15 individuals who had contact with Case #53, including his colleagues, his family and persons having contact with the patient at workplace and the hospital. The CECC will also investigate activities Case #53 had done before the onset of symptoms to further trace persons with potential contact with him.The CECC reminded travelers traveling abroad to reinforce respiratory as well as hand hygiene; and travelers returning to Taiwan to abide by 14-day period of home quarantine or self-health management measures.