by Brian Hioe

語言:
English
Photo Credit: Tsai Ing-wen/Facebook

FOUR DOMESTIC CASES and two imported cases were announced by the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) at its daily press conference today. Two of these cases were already in quarantine. No deaths were announced. 

All four cases were in New Taipei. 92.4% of cases to date have been released from quarantine. Though fewer vaccinations took place yesterday, due to the weekend, vaccination coverage is now 39.58%, which is 42.90 per 100 people. 

Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung announced that monitoring measures will be stepped up in order to maintain the stability of the current situation. This will include increasing the number of sewage testing stations from 11 to 22, increased monitoring at neighborhood testing stations, and monitoring of travelers from high-risk areas at airports. Measures are being stepped up because it is expected that fewer people will go to be tested at neighborhood testing stations with the situation under control. 

Information on the new cases today (left) and further data released by the CECC (right). Photo credit: Ministry of Health and Welfare/Facebook

Testing of sewage will cover all cities, though the details are being drawn up, and has picked up some COVID-19 strains, with the hope that this can allow for detecting undetected transmissions. 5,000 blood samples from April to July will also be analyzed in order to understand trends in the COVID-19 outbreak to date, with the results expected before the end of next month. These blood samples will be anonymized and passed an ethics review. Imported frozen foods will also be inspected for COVID-19, with places in other parts of the world having found that COVID-19 can spread through frozen food. This has not been reported to date in Taiwan, however. 

Schools and other institutions will continue to require weekly tests for individuals that have not been vaccinated. Chen Shih-chung does not believe that this requirement will remain in place forever, however, and believes that weekly testing can end once vaccination has reached a certain percentage. The CECC will discuss New Taipei’s current requirement that two PCR tests be required for release from quarantine and whether this should be expanded, as well as what measures should be implemented while waiting for results from variant testing for inbound travelers. 

When asked about the possibility of local governments seeking to purchase vaccines, Chen stated that vaccine purchases would have to still be signed off on and approved by the CECC. Likewise, Medigen vaccines do not have an unlimited supply domestically either. 89,925 more appointments have been made for Medigen vaccinations as of this morning, with more appointments added. The current period for making appointments continues until tomorrow, with vaccinations to take place from August 27th to August 29th. 

Tsai posing for a photo after being vaccinated. Photo credit: Tsai Ing-wen/Facebook

President Tsai Ing-wen was vaccinated with Medigen this morning, stating that she experienced few effects after vaccination, with Medigen vaccinations starting nationwide today. Tsai stated that more vaccines would arrive by the end of the month, though when asked, Chen did not confirm what brand these vaccines would be. Chen was asked about the possibility of sending a representative to the US or elsewhere to urge the swifter delivery of vaccines, in response to which Chen touted Terry Gou visiting Europe to call for swifted arrival of vaccines. 

If there are reports of expired meals at quarantine facilities, they can be exchanged for new ones. Chen stated that satisfaction for quarantine hotels is at 90%.  

There were some reports of minor reactions for mixed vaccinations today, but none were serious. Some vaccinated with mixed vaccinations today included foreigners. 

With United Biomedical criticizing the decision not to give its vaccine an Emergency Use Authorization, Chen stated that the company could take up the issue with the Food and Drug Administration. 

Chen was questioned as to claims that COVID-19 will see a resurgence in the fall. Chen stated that strict measures would remain for inbound travelers to try and prevent this from taking place. Greater Taipei is now considered a medium-risk area, not a high-risk area, though there are still concerns about gatherings at long-term care institutions. It is not clear when KTVs, tea parlors, and nightclubs can reopen currently. 

Information on the strengthened monitoring measures for COVID-19. Photo credit: Ministry of Health and Welfare/Facebook

According to New Taipei mayor Hou You-yi, two of the four cases today were already in quarantine. Two cases are thought to have become infected with COVID-19 while at the workplace, while two cases have unclear sources of infection. New Taipei will reopen basketball courts, exercise equipment in parks, and water activities after August 24th, though mask-wearing and social distancing will be maintained, and there will be three days of closure if there are COVID-19 cases.

Hou reasserted his view that the vaccination coverage in Taiwan is too low to roll out vaccine passports currently. Hou also called for the central government to work with local governments regarding vaccine purchases for third dose vaccinations.

Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je reasserted today that Wanhua is no longer considered a hotspot, though transmission chains for COVID-19 are distributed elsewhere. Taipei expects to complete 50,916 Medigen vaccinations in the next two days, also calling on the central government to take measures for vaccination of elders, seeing as tomorrow marks ten weeks since vaccination for them.

With Taipei at 50% vaccination coverage, this will be used for measures regarding dividing up areas between the vaccinated and unvaccinated. Taipei hopes to purchase vaccines for third dose vaccinations on its own, though it believes that first and second dose vaccination is still the responsibility of the central government. Taipei will only consider reopening KTVs, tea parlors, and nightclubs once the CECC announces that this can be done.

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