Taiwan adds 16 new COVID-19 cases, bringing total to 169 (update)

Focus Taiwan
Date: 03/22/2020
By|: Chen Wei-ting and Joseph Yeh

Taipei, March 22 (CNA) A total of 16 new coronavirus cases, 13 of which originated overseas, were

Health Minister Chen Shih-chung

confirmed in Taiwan on Sunday, bringing the total number to 169 since the outbreak began, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said.

Among the new patients, three are believed to have contracted the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) locally, said Health Minister Chen Shih-chung (陳時中), who heads the CECC.

One of the three, a woman in her 20s, is a nurse at a nursing home. So far, 81 doctors, nurses and residents at the nursing home have been tested for COVID-19, and all have tested negative, according to Chen.

Health authorities are now moving five of the 53 patients to a nearby hospital while the rest of the 48 will be sent to two quarantine locations to prevent a further spread of the disease, said Deputy Health Minister Hsueh Jui-yuan (薛瑞元). [FULL STORY]