Taiwan reported 35,632 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, the lowest number recorded in over 40 days, and 144 deaths from the disease, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).
The new cases consisted of 35,596 domestic and 36 imported, and the lower numbers can be partially attributed to the fact that fewer tests are taken and reported over the weekend, said Lo Yi-chun (???), deputy head of the CECC’s medical response division.
The daily case numbers in the coming days will likely climb by 10 percent to 30 percent compared to Monday, but should all fall below 50,000 cases, Lo said.
Taiwan last recorded case numbers in the 30,000s on May 6, CECC data shows.
The deceased patients reported on Monday ranged in age from their 20s to 90s, and consisted of 139 individuals who had chronic illnesses or other severe diseases. A total of 57 were unvaccinated, the CECC said.
The CECC also said that 111 previously reported COVID-19 cases had become severe, while 184 other individuals had developed moderate symptoms.
Among the severe infections is a one-year-old boy with heart, lung, and neurological diseases who relies on a ventilator, the CECC said.
The boy began to have a fever on June 11 and tested positive that same day. He developed a cough and lower energy levels on June 13, and was taken to a hospital emergency room two days later after he became drowsy and had difficulty breathing.
The boy was found to have low blood oxygen levels and pneumonia, and is still being treated in an intensive care unit, the CECC said.
To date, 63 children aged 12 years old or younger have developed severe COVID-19 infections, of whom 18 have passed away.
Of the 3,266,596 domestic cases reported in Taiwan this year, 5,266 have been classified as severe infections and 7,654 as moderate, accounting for 0.16 percent and 0.23 percent of the total, respectively, according to CECC data as of June 19.
In all other cases, the infected individuals were either asymptomatic or had mild symptoms, the CECC said.
All cities and counties reported less than 6,000 domestic cases each on Monday, with the highest number recorded in Taichung with 5,312, followed by Kaohsiung with 5,280, and New Taipei with 4,267.
Tainan reported 3,123 cases, Taoyuan 3,097, Changhua County 2,960, Taipei 2,296, Pingtung County 1,519, Yunlin County 1,040, Miaoli County 959, Hsinchu County 941, Nantou County 886, and Chiayi County 683.
Hsinchu City recorded 674 cases, Yilan County 590, Hualien County 554, Keelung 437, Chiayi City 426, Taitung County 306, Penghu County 158, Kinmen County 71, and Matsu Islands 17.
To date, Taiwan has recorded 3,330,695 COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began in early 2020, including 3,316,782 domestic infections.
With the 144 deaths reported Monday, the number of confirmed COVID-19 fatalities in the country rose to 5,365, CECC data showed.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel