Taiwan adds 16 COVID-19 patients

File photo taken on July 21, 2019 from Xiangshan Mountain shows the Taipei 101 skyscraper in Taipei, southeast China's Taiwan. (Xinhua/Zhu Xiang)

Among the new patients, 13 were believed to have contracted the virus during their trips overseas while three were believed to be infected locally.

TAIPEI, March 22 (Xinhua) -- The total number of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in Taiwan has increased by 16 to 169, the island's epidemic monitoring agency said Sunday.

Among the new patients, 13 were believed to have contracted the virus during their trips overseas, including trips to the United States, Egypt, Germany, France, Italy and the Philippines, while three were believed to be infected locally, the agency said in a press release.

Among the island's confirmed COVID-19 cases, 133 were imported. Twenty-eight of the confirmed patients have recovered, and two died of the disease. The rest are in stable condition.

The agency also announced that Taiwan will suspend transfer services of international flights via its airports from March 24 to April 7.