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BA.5 Covid variant cases may see spike
CECC officials are warning of a possible spike in local BA.5 Covid case numbers, in the coming weeks. The Central Epidemic Command Center Commander Wang Bi-sheng says, amid a local outbreak of the Covid-19 Omicron subvariant BA.5, the CECC has estimated that daily Covid case numbers could double by the end of the month.
Wang says, according to estimates, by the end of August, case numbers could reach as high as 60,000 per day, with low estimates around 30,000 per day.
The CECC notes that because BA.5 virus has an increased resistance to human immune responses, and since most people in Taiwan have been infected by the subvariant BA.2, there is an increased chance of high numbers of re-infections, as it begins to spread.
The CECC has so far reported a total of 33 local BA.5 cases in Taiwan, and epidemic prevention measures will be adjusted according to the changing situation.
This comes as the CECC reported 15,792 new coronavirus cases yesterday.
Of that number, 15,596 were domestic infections. Health officials say 11 previously reported cases have now been listed as severe, while 22 others have developed moderate symptoms. 22 new deaths were also reported. The deceased ranged in age from their 50s to their 90s. They all suffered from chronic illnesses or other severe diseases, and 12 were unvaccinated. It brings the number of coronavirus-related deaths here in Taiwan since the pandemic began to 9,457.
