News
Another 100k Covid cases over the weekend
The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) reported 44,361 new local cases of Covid-19 on Sunday. That represents a slight decline from the 46,377 domestic cases reported on Saturday. Health Minister Chen Shih-chung is warning that it is likely due to the fact that fewer people get tested on weekends.
12 new coronavirus-related deaths were reported on Sunday and 11 on Saturday. The latest deaths bring the total number here in Taiwan since the pandemic began to 919.
Of the 288,515 domestic cases recorded this year, 606 have been classified as moderate infections and 101 as severe. All of the other cases have involved individuals with only mild symptoms or those who were asymptomatic.
In other pandemic news, The Centers for Disease Control says doctors can now prescribe oral antiviral drugs, such as Pfizer's Paxlovid or Merck's molnupiravir, to people with mild or asymptomatic coronavirus infections, if they are over the age of 64 or are at risk of severe disease.
The statement comes amid online rumours that oral antiviral medication is only to be prescribed to people with moderate to severe symptoms.
According to the CDC, patients with moderate or severe symptoms are given any of a number of medications, including Remdesivir and steroids, based on the assessment of their doctors, but they are seldom given oral antiviral drugs.
The CDC says to date, doctors have prescribed around 1,200 courses of Paxlovid and 700 courses of molnupiravir and those drugs are now being transferred to 57 "core pharmacies" islandwide as shipments arrive.
The government has taken delivery of 180,000 courses of Paxlovid and 5,040 courses of molnupiravir.
An additional 520,000 courses of Paxlovid are due to arrive in Taiwan by the end of June.
