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CECC warns domestic Covid cases yet to peak
Health Minister Chen Shih-chung is warning that the recent surge in domestic coronavirus infections have not yet peaked, despite the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) reporting 216 new cases.
Tuesday was the fifth consecutive day that new domestic cases remained over 100, and it was also the highest daily number this year - breaking the previous record of 183 on 3 April.
According to the health minister, the number of domestic cases has yet to peak because several chains of infections are still ongoing.
However, Chen is stressing that there are adequate numbers of hospital beds and rooms at quarantine centres and hotels to accommodate infected patients.
Chen says currently, less than a third of the 3,854 beds on coronavirus hospital wards are in use, and only 60% of the 6,774 beds at designated quarantine centres and hotels are occupied.
The CECC has said an additional 5,000 hotel rooms could be made available, if necessary, so there is no need at this time to mandate home quarantine for coronavirus patients with mild or no symptoms.
However, the health officials are drafting guidelines for home quarantine in such cases, if that becomes necessary.
In other Covid news, the CECC says those with mild or asymptomatic Covid-19 can now cut their period of isolation, once their tests show they are not highly contagious.
This means that isolation can end when a patient gets two consecutive negative PCR tests, or a cycle threshold (CT) test with a value of 30 or higher.
But all travellers arriving in Taiwan will still have to observe 10 days of quarantine, either in a designated hotel or at home.
They must also obtain a negative Covid-19 PCR test before their quarantine can end.
Everyone who tests positive for Covid-19 must also conduct seven days of self-health management after their release from isolation and take two rapid tests during that seven-day period.
