French national infected with COVID-19 in Taiwan, bringing total number of cases to 216

TAIPEI, March 24 -- A French citizen studying in Taiwan was confirmed to have contracted the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the island's epidemic monitoring agency said Tuesday evening.

The patient, a man in his 30s, had contacts with a previously confirmed patient, a French tourist who arrived in Taiwan on March 12 and was diagnosed with COVID-19 on March 18, the agency said in a press release.

The latest patient developed a fever and cough on March 20 and has received treatment in an isolation ward, according to the release.

The case raised the total number of COVID-19 cases in Taiwan to 216.