CORONAVIRUS/Taiwan reports 20,768 new COVID-19 cases, 26 deaths

Taipei, Jan. 18 (CNA) Taiwan on Wednesday reported 20,768 new cases of COVID-19 and 26 deaths from the disease, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).

The total number of cases represented a 17.7-percent decline from the same day a week earlier, the CECC said.

Among the reported deaths was that of a 4-year-old boy, with the others ranging in age from their 40s to their 90s. All but two had underlying health issues, while 21 of them were unvaccinated against COVID-19, the CECC said.

The boy, who was unvaccinated and had chronic kidney disease, died from encephalitis caused by COVID-19, the CECC said. He was the 42nd person in Taiwan aged 12 or under to die from the disease in Taiwan.

Meanwhile, the CECC said 6.7 percent (or 162) of the 2,408 travelers arriving directly from China on Jan. 16 tested positive for the disease, as did 3.9 percent (or 3) of the 76 travelers who went from Xiamen to Kinmen and Matsu.

Also on Wednesday, the CECC reported 152 new cases classified as moderate and 29 as severe.

Regional breakdown

Regionally, New Taipei reported the highest number of new cases, with 4,363, followed by Taichung with 2,461 and Taoyuan with 2,411.

Taipei reported 2,386 new cases, Kaohsiung 2,361, Tainan 1,733, Changhua 819, Hsinchu County 604, Miaoli 575, Hsinchu City 552, Pingtung 413, Yunlin 360 and Keelung 333.

Yilan had 304 cases, Nantou County 273, Chiayi County 231, Hualien 177, Chiayi City 168, Taitung 106, Kinmen 84, Penghu 46 and the Matsu Islands eight, the CECC said.

To date, Taiwan has recorded 9,266,087 COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began in early 2020, including 45,857 classified as imported.

With the 26 deaths reported on Wednesday, the number of confirmed COVID-19 fatalities in the country rose to 15,929.

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Recent cases

Jan. 17: Taiwan reports 19,970 new COVID-19 cases, 30 deaths

Jan. 16: Taiwan reports 15,632 COVID-19 cases, 40 deaths

Jan. 15: Taiwan reports 21,270 new COVID-19 cases, 31 deaths

Jan. 14: Taiwan reports 20,412 new COVID-19 cases, 47 deaths

Jan. 13: Taiwan reports 21,737 new COVID-19 cases, 53 deaths

Jan. 12: Taiwan reports 22,937 new COVID-19 cases, 48 deaths

Jan. 11: Taiwan reports 25,643 new COVID-19 cases, 46 deaths

 Latest COVID-19 rules

● Taiwan begins testing travelers from China for COVID-19

● Revised protocol for hospital visits from Dec. 10

● Taiwan to stop paying COVID medical fees for certain foreign nationals

● Taiwan to remove weekly arrival cap on Dec. 10

● Taiwan's eased mask mandate takes effect on Dec. 1

● Taiwan cuts COVID isolation to 5 days, lifts workplace vaccine mandates (Nov. 14)

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

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

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