The number of COVID-19 cases reported last week dropped 24.7 percent from the previous week, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said yesterday, as it reported 16,902 new local cases, 297 imported cases and 57 deaths from the disease.
Yesterday’s number of new local cases was 25.2 percent lower than on Sunday last week, it said.
Most cases were reported in the six special municipalities, led by 3,179 in New Taipei City, the center said.
Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times
The other five special municipalities reported between 1,513 and 1,996 cases, while 16 cities and counties reported fewer than 1,000 cases each, it said.
Of the 57 people who died, 54 had underlying health conditions and 39 had not received a booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, the center said.
The youngest person who died was a man in his 20s who did not have any chronic illness and had received two doses of a vaccine, the center said, adding that he was a long-term smoker.
The man had a headache for several days, but only took pain relievers before he lost consciousness on Feb. 2 and was taken to a hospital, the center said, adding that he was found to have had a brain aneurysm causing bleeding and tested positive for COVID-19.
He died on Tuesday, it said.
Centers for Disease Control Deputy Director-General Chuang Jen-hsiang (莊人祥), who is the CECC’s spokesman, said 138,344 new local cases were reported between Monday and Saturday, 24.7 percent fewer than the previous week.
The center expects weekly cases to decrease further this week, Chuang said.
The largest number of imported cases came from Japan, he said.
As the new school semester is to begin this week, students might be at risk of exposure to the virus due to more interpersonal contact, and therefore the mask mandate is to remain in schools until next month, Chuang said.
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