Pedestrians, wearing face masks after Taiwan bumped up its alert level in some locations in the wake of a new wave of COVID-19 infections, cross a street in New Taipei City on May 15, 2021. (SAM YEH / AFP)

TAIPEI - Taiwan on Monday reported 16 new COVID-19 cases, including nine local infections, the island's disease monitoring agency said.

Of the 16 newly reported cases, eight involved young children at a kindergarten in New Taipei City, the island's disease monitoring agency said

The nine local cases include eight young children from a kindergarten in New Taipei City and one parent, the agency said.

A teacher in the kindergarten was confirmed with COVID-19 on Sunday.

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Taiwan will extend its current level-2 alert against COVID-19 to at least Sept 20 as sporadic locally transmitted cases with unknown causes continue to be reported, the agency said.

The level-2 alert would have expired on Monday after being extended for two weeks on Aug. 24.

The number of confirmed cases on the island has risen to 16,035, including 14,542 locally transmitted cases. A total of 837 deaths have been recorded, the agency said.

READ MORE: Taiwan tightens virus curbs as new local cases jump to 180