Taipei, Jan. 26 (CNA) Taiwan reported 19,144 new cases of COVID-19 and 21 deaths from the disease on Thursday, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).

The 18,934 new domestic cases represented a 5 percent increase from the same day a week earlier, CECC data showed.

The deceased ranged in age from their 40s to their 90s. All had underlying health issues, while 11 of them had not received three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine as recommended by experts, the CECC said.

Meanwhile, the CECC said 25 of the 958 travelers (2.6 percent) arriving directly from China on Jan. 24 tested positive for the disease, as did 2 of the 39 travelers (5.1 percent) who traveled from Xiamen to Kinmen or Matsu.

Also on Thursday, the CECC reported 43 new cases classified as moderate and 18 as severe.

Regional breakdown

Regionally, New Taipei recorded the highest number of new cases, with 3,624, followed by Kaohsiung with 2,357 and Taichung with 2,306.

Taoyuan reported 2,080 new cases, Taipei 1,947, Tainan 1,580, Changhua 838, Hsinchu County 564, Pingtung 436, Hsinchu City 426, Miaoli 410, and Yunlin 401.

Keelung had 396 cases, Yilan 361, Nantou 273, Chiayi County 272, Hualien 233, Chiayi City 175, Kinmen 115, Taitung 98, Penghu 41, and the Matsu Islands one, the CECC said.

To date, Taiwan has recorded 9,404,138 COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began in early 2020, including 47,638 classified as imported.

With the 21 deaths reported on Thursday, the number of confirmed COVID-19 fatalities in the country rose to 16,189.