PublishTime：2020-03-15

On March 15, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced six new confirmed imported cases (Cases #54-59) of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Taiwan. Case #54 is an over-30-year-old male who resides in northern Taiwan. Case #54 visited Thailand from February 28 to March 1. After returning to Taiwan, Case #54 traveled with a friend to Hokkaido, Japan from March 5 to March 8. He is currently being treated in a negative pressure isolation ward. Preliminary investigation has identified a total of 31 individuals who had contact with the case including people in the same household and persons having contact with the case at the workplace and the hospital.Case #55 is an over-50-year-old male who resides in northern Taiwan. Case #55 joined a travel group to Egypt from March 3 to March 12. Case #55 is currently being treated in a negative pressure isolation ward. Preliminary investigation has identified a total of 33 individuals who had contact with the case, including people in the same tour group and persons having contact with the case at the hospital.Cases #56 and #57 are an over-40-year-old male and an over-70-year-old female, respectively. Both patients reside in northern Taiwan. Both cases traveled to Turkey as part of a tour group, transiting through Dubai, from March 4 to March 13. Infection with COVID-19 was laboratory-confirmed in the two cases on March 15. Preliminary investigation has identified a total of 19 individuals who had contact with the two patients, including people in the same tour group and family members living with them.Case #58 is an over-20-year-old female who resides in norther Taiwan. Case #58 went to Spain for study in January, and returned to Taiwan on March 13. She tested positive for COVID-19 on March 15, and is being treated in a negative pressure isolation ward. Preliminary investigation has identified a total of 5 individuals who lived with her and had contact with the case.Case #59 is a male in his teens who resides in northern Taiwan. Case #59 visited Greece with his family in January, and returned to Taiwan on March 5. Preliminary investigation has identified a total of 16 individuals who l had contact with the case. The CECC continues to trace other individuals having contact with the cases.