CORONAVIRUS/Taiwan reports 10,244 new COVID-19 cases, 22 deaths

Taipei, Dec. 5 (CNA) Taiwan on Monday reported 10,244 new COVID-19 infections and 22 deaths, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).

The number of new cases represented a 3.5-percent drop from the same day a week earlier, CECC data showed.

On a week-by-week basis, the 101,578 cases recorded from Nov. 28 to Dec. 4 were down 3.09 percent from the number reported from Nov. 21 to Nov. 27, the data showed

Over the weekend, the CECC said it expected to see the current eight-week downward trend continue through this week as cases from the recent BA.5 wave reach a low point.

In the following weeks, infection numbers will likely go through a period of "ups and downs," CECC spokesman Chuang Jen-hsiang (莊人祥) said.

The deceased reported Monday ranged in age from their 50s to their 90s. All but four had underlying health conditions, while 10 of them were unvaccinated against COVID-19, the CECC said.

Of the 13,623 confirmed COVID-19 deaths in Taiwan this year, 91 percent have involved people with chronic illnesses or other underlying conditions, 91 percent were aged 60 and above, and 66 percent had not received three shots of a COVID-19 vaccine, according to CECC data as of Dec. 4.

Also on Monday, the CECC reported seven new COVID-19 cases classified as moderate and 22 as severe.

Regional breakdown

Regionally, New Taipei reported the highest number of new cases, with 1,518, followed by Taichung with 1,418 and Kaohsiung with 1,245.

Taoyuan had 1,199 new cases, Taipei 868, Tainan 714, Changhua 677, Hsinchu County 396, Pingtung 327, Hsinchu City 326, Miaoli 266 and Yunlin 250.

Chiayi County had 185 cases, Nantou 168, Hualien 157, Yilan 135, Keelung 120, Chiayi City 84, Taitung 79, Kinmen 44, Penghu 31, and the Matsu Islands two, the CECC said.

To date, Taiwan has recorded 8,379,467 COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began in early 2020, including 37,960 classified as imported.

With the 22 deaths reported on Monday, the number of confirmed COVID-19 fatalities in the country rose to 14,500.

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Latest COVID-19 rules

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● Taiwan to further ease border rules for China, Hong Kong, Macau residents

● People with fever will be advised against taking high speed trains

● Taiwan's new COVID-19 regulations taking effect Nov. 7

● Taiwan lifts ban on international cruises

● Taiwan's updated COVID-19 protocols for arriving travelers from Oct. 13  

Recent cases

Dec. 4: Taiwan reports 13,019 new COVID-19 cases, 29 deaths

Dec. 3: Taiwan reports 13,152 new COVID-19 cases, 33 deaths

Dec. 2: Taiwan reports 14,081 new COVID-19 cases, 29 deaths

Dec. 1: Taiwan reports 15,651 new COVID-19 cases, 53 deaths

Nov. 30: Taiwan reports 17,727 new COVID-19 cases, 37 deaths

Nov. 29: Taiwan reports 17,289 new COVID-19 cases, 21 deaths