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🇹🇼 Taiwan /Health & Science

Taiwan Sees COVID-19 Cases Double, Urges Masking and Vaccination

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Taiwan's COVID-19 cases are rapidly increasing, with outpatient and emergency department visits surging by 117.4% in the past week.
  • Last week saw 42 severe cases and 2 deaths, with over 73% of severe cases being individuals aged 65 and above.
  • Health authorities urge vaccination, especially for high-risk groups, and advise continued mask-wearing and handwashing.

Taiwan is experiencing a significant surge in COVID-19 cases, with the number of outpatient and emergency department visits jumping by 117.4% in the past week, signaling a rapid escalation of the epidemic. The latest figures show a total of 10,605 visits, indicating a clear upward trend in infections.

The domestic epidemic has been rising continuously, with outpatient and emergency department visits reaching 10,605 last week, an increase of 117.4% compared to the previous week.

— Li JialinDeputy Director of the Epidemic Command Center, detailing the recent surge in COVID-19 cases.

Last week alone, the island recorded 42 severe cases and two deaths related to the virus. Data reveals that a substantial majority of these severe cases, 73.4%, involved individuals aged 65 and older. Furthermore, 83.7% of severe cases had pre-existing chronic conditions, and a striking 90.6% had not received the current season's COVID-19 vaccine.

Health officials are urging the public to remain vigilant, particularly during the summer travel season when both domestic and international cases are rising. Recommendations include consistent handwashing and wearing masks when necessary. The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) highlighted that while the domestic virus strain is primarily NB.1.8.1, this variant is also dominant globally. International trends show increasing positivity rates in many regions, including neighboring China, Hong Kong, Japan, and the United States.

The public should practice frequent handwashing and wear masks when necessary, and high-risk groups should get vaccinated as soon as possible.

— Health authoritiesAdvising the public on preventive measures amidst rising COVID-19 cases.

Despite the rising cases, vaccination rates among high-risk groups remain low. Only 21.01% of those aged 65 and above have received their first dose of the current vaccine, with a mere 0.56% having received their second. The public vaccination program has been extended to September 28 to encourage more people to get vaccinated. The CECC also confirmed sufficient supplies of antiviral medications and rapid test kits.

We urge those who have not yet been vaccinated to get their shots as soon as possible.

— Zeng ShuhuiDeputy Minister of Health, calling for increased COVID-19 vaccination uptake.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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