TAIWAN MULLS EXTENDING COVID CONTROLS AS INFECTIONS STAY HIGH

Taiwan is considering extending strict nationwide coronavirus measures beyond May 28 as the infection rate has remained high, said the head of the Central Epidemic Command Centre (CECC), Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa) reported.

CECC head Chen Shih-chung said on Monday that an expert council of public health experts had recommended the extension. Chen, who is also health and welfare minister, did not say when a decision would be made and how long the extension would last.

The restrictions imposed on the Taipei metropolitan area on May 15 and extended nationwide on May 19 include a face mask requirement at all times outside, the closure of all recreational facilities and a ban on indoor social gatherings involving more than five people.

Chen also announced 339 new confirmed infections, including five imported cases, for a total of 4,717 cases and 29 fatalities. After retrospective adjustment of testing data, the CECC data showed that confirmed infections had soared from 30 on May 14 to a peak of 476 new domestic cases on May 17.

They have gradually declined to the 334 locally transmitted cases announced on May 24. Chen said infection rates in Taipei City and New Taipei City had declined, but added that "we ... cannot be overly optimistic."

The CECC reported that 302,698 people had received an AstraZeneca jab as of Sunday, with an additional 410,000 ready to be used to vaccinate front-line medical and other high-risk personnel.

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