CORONAVIRUS/Taiwan reports no new COVID-19 cases for second time this week: CECC

Taipei, April 16 (CNA) Taiwan, for the second time this week, reported no new cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus, thus keeping the total number of those infected in the country at 395, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said Thursday.

The last time Taiwan confirmed zero cases was two days earlier.

To date, 340 of Taiwan's 395 cases have been classified as imported, while the other 55 are believed to be local infections, Health Minister Chen Shih-chung (陳時中), who also heads the CECC, told reporters at a daily briefing in Taipei.

A total of 155 of the COVID-19 patients in the country have already been released from quarantine, while the death tally remains at six, Chen said, noting that the trend has been on a decline since Taiwan began implementing strict home quarantine measures on all inbound passengers since March 14.

"Compared with the rest of the world, Taiwan as of right now is doing pretty well when it comes to containing the disease," he said.

According to the CECC chief, Taiwan has so far been able to keep its coronavirus death rate relatively low at 1.52 percent, compared with the global average of 6.4-6.5 percent to date.

Also, among the country's infection cases, its recovery rate currently stands at 39.2 percent, he added.

Globally, COVID-19 has infected 2,059,582 patients in 184 countries and regions, including 636,350 in the United States, 177,633 in Spain, 165,155 in Italy, 147,863 in France and 127,584 in Germany, with a total of 133,138 fatalities, according to CECC statistics as of Thursday.

"Taiwan, however, cannot let its guard down," Chen said, reminding the public to always exercise personal hygiene such as washing their hands thoroughly and to practice social distancing in public spaces.