Domestic COVID-19 case numbers in Taiwan remained low over the past week and the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced changes in testing rules for individuals arriving in the country.
The following is a review of local COVID-19 cases, vaccination rates and policy changes from March 14 to March 20.
New cases
From March 14 to March 20, Taiwan reported 15 domestic COVID-19 cases and 602 imported cases, including 120 cases on March 19, the highest number of imported cases recorded in a day since the pandemic began in 2020. No deaths were reported.
Currently, the CECC is monitoring five domestic clusters and three individual cases, all of unknown origin.
Genome sequencing conducted on patients in three clusters and one individual case found that they were infected with two different versions of the Omicron variant.
In March, Taiwan has so far seen either zero or single-digit domestic cases each day, according to CECC data.
In a press briefing on Friday, the CECC said that of the 890 domestic cases Taiwan recorded from Jan. 1 to March 17 this year, three patients experienced moderate to severe symptoms of the disease and one passed away.
The three patients were in their 60s to 80s. One had received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, another had gotten one dose, and the third was unvaccinated.
Related: Authorities urge seniors to get COVID-19 booster shots
To date, Taiwan has confirmed 21,905 COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began in early 2020, including 15,503 domestically transmitted infections. There have been 853 deaths related to COVID-19.
Vaccination
From March 14 to March 19, the first dose vaccination rate grew from 83.19 percent to 83.29 percent, the second dose vaccination rate rose from 77.62 percent to 77.91 percent, and the booster shot rate increased from 46.63 percent to 47.93 percent.
The CECC does not provide updates on Taiwan’s COVID-19 vaccination rates on Sunday.
Currently, anyone wanting a first or second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine is advised to make an appointment at a hospital, clinic or government health center.
Those eligible for a third dose can make bookings on the government’s 1922 COVID-19 vaccination booking website. Appointments open weekly on Wednesday and close Friday for shots to be administered the coming week.
Of the 4.742 million people who are eligible to get a booster shot from March 21-27, 148,537, or 3 percent made an appointment, according to the CECC.
Policy changes
Taiwan’s Health and Welfare Minister Chen Shih-chung (???) said March 14 that the CECC will draft plans for seven, five, and three-day quarantines for individuals arriving in Taiwan, though he did not specify when the shorter quarantine periods would be implemented.
Related: CECC to plan for 7-, 5-, 3-day quarantines for arrivals
On March 17, the CECC adjusted testing rules for people undergoing self-health management after their quarantine period, requiring them to take rapid tests earlier.
Related: Taiwan adjusts COVID testing rules for self-health management
The CECC announced on Saturday that beginning Tuesday, March 22, arrivals from South Korea can only leave the airport after receiving the results of a COVID-19 test taken on arrival, following a record spike in cases in the country.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel