CORONAVIRUS/Taiwan records no new COVID-19 cases, total kept at 393

Taipei, April 14 (CNA) Taiwan recorded no new cases of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) for the first time in 36 days on Tuesday, keeping the total at 393 since the pandemic began late last year, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).

"For the first time since March 9, I am happy to say that we recorded no new cases. The pandemic has not stopped so we shouldn't let our guard down, but this is still something to be happy about," said Health Minister Chen Shih-chung (陳時中), who also heads the CECC.

The last days when Taiwan had zero infections were on March 8 and March 9.

To date, 338 of Taiwan's 393 cases have been classified as imported, while the other 55 are believed to be local infections, according to CECC statistics.

A total of 124 of Taiwan's COVID-19 patients have been released from quarantine, while six have died. The others are still in quarantine and being observed in hospitals, CECC statistics showed.

Globally, COVID-19 has infected 1,866,085 patients in 184 countries and regions, including 580,619 in the U.S., 169,496 in Spain, 159,516 in Italy, 123,016 in Germany, and 98,076 in France, with a total of 118,418 fatalities, according to CECC statistics as of Tuesday.