Taiwan reported 15,440 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday and 78 deaths from the disease, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).

The 15,173 domestic cases represented a decline of about 21.4 percent from a week ago, according to CECC data.

The CECC said the deceased ranged in age from their 40s to their 90s. All but four of them had underlying health conditions, while 40 were unvaccinated against COVID-19, it said.

Also on Friday, the CECC reported 133 new COVID-19 cases classified as moderate and 69 as severe.

Regional breakdown

Regionally, New Taipei recorded the highest number of new cases, with 2,819, followed by Taoyuan with 1,929 and Taichung with 1,811.

Kaohsiung reported 1,777 cases, Taipei 1,369, Tainan 1,278, Changhua 690, Hsinchu County 435, Pingtung 407, Miaoli 364, Hsinchu City 358, Yunlin 328, Yilan 319, and Keelung 279.

Nantou had 235 cases, Chiayi County 219, Hualien 197, Chiayi City 155, Taitung 119, Kinmen 45, Penghu 33, and the Matsu Islands seven.

To date, Taiwan has recorded 9,894,283 COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began in early 2020, including 53,125 classified as imported.

With the 78 deaths reported Friday, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 fatalities in the country rose to 17,397.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel