Taipei, May 14 (CNA) Taiwan's single-day COVID-19 cases surpassed 60,000 for the third straight day on Saturday, as the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) reported 64,041 new cases and 40 deaths from the disease.
The new cases consisted of 63,964 domestically transmitted infections and 77 cases that were contracted abroad, the CECC said.
Of the 40 people reported on Saturday to have died of COVID-19 complications, 16 were men and 24 were women who ranged in age from their 20s to their 90s. They tested positive between April 21 and May 12, and passed away between May 5 and May 12, according to CECC data.
Among them, 15 were unvaccinated against COVID-19, while five had received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, seven had received two doses, and 13 had received three doses, according to CECC data.
A total of 38 people out of the 40 who died had underlying medical conditions, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic lung disease, chronic kidney disease, stroke, and cancer, according to CECC data.
The youngest reported death was that of a man in his 20s who had a history of neuromuscular disease and was a long-term user of a breathing device, according to the CECC.
Lo Yi-chun (羅一鈞), deputy head of the CECC's medical response division, said at a daily press briefing the man had received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine but developed respiratory failure after being infected with the disease.
"It also aggravated his neuromuscular disease and he unfortunately passed away," Lo said.
According to CECC data, the man showed an onset of symptoms on Tuesday and died on Wednesday, the same day he was confirmed to be positive for COVID-19.
The CECC also reported Saturday that an additional 92 patients had developed moderate symptoms and 38 had developed severe symptoms.
Of the 609,121 domestic cases recorded in Taiwan from Jan. 1 to May 13, 1,051 have been classified as moderate infections and 269 as severe, accounting for 0.17 percent and 0.04 percent of the total, respectively, according to CECC data.
In all the other cases, the patients were either asymptomatic or had only mild symptoms, the CECC said.
On Saturday, New Taipei reported the highest number of domestic cases -- 21,336 -- followed by Taipei with 9,560, Taoyuan with 9,482, Taichung with 4,409, and Kaohsiung with 3,766.
Tainan reported 2,627 cases, Keelung 2,004, Yilan County 1,757, Hsinchu County 1,661, Hsinchu City 1,243, Changhua County 1,128, Pingtung County 1,107, Hualien County 913, Miaoli County 649, Yunlin County 634, Taitung County 426, Nantou County 414, Chiayi County 398, and Chiayi City 215.
Kinmen County reported 112, Penghu County 108, and the Matsu Islands 15.
Meanwhile, of the 77 new imported cases, 63 were travelers who tested positive on arrival in Taiwan, according to the CECC.
To date, Taiwan has confirmed 699,824 COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began in early 2020, including 687,601 domestically transmitted infections.
With the 40 deaths reported Saturday, the number of confirmed COVID-19 fatalities in the country reached 1,049, with 196 recorded this year.
Table of Contents
Also on Saturday
May 14: Taiwan FDA reviewing data on Novavax vaccine following EUA request
Related News
● Q&A/What to do if you or your contacts get COVID-19
May 11: Three groups of people with positive rapid test results to be counted as COVID-19 cases
May 7: Quarantine cut to 7 days for mild, asymptomatic COVID-19 cases: CECC
May 7: Taiwan rolls back quarantine rules for contacts of COVID-19 patients
May 4: Taiwan adjusts hospital policy for COVID-19 patients
Recent cases
May 13: Taiwan reports 65,011 new COVID-19 cases, 41 deaths
May 12: Taiwan reports 65,446 new COVID-19 cases, 17 deaths
May 11: Taiwan reports 57,216 new COVID-19 cases, eight deaths
