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CECC revokes isolation rule for boosted housemates
The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) says that, from today, people who have received three shots of a coronavirus vaccine will no longer have to isolate for three days if someone in their household tests positive for the disease. They will instead be required to conduct seven days of "self-initiated epidemic prevention," during which they will be allowed to go outside, provided that they obtain a negative rapid antigen test result no more than one day before. They are also banned from going to school, dining at restaurants, participating in large-scale events, or visiting crowded places. However, such triple vaccinated people are permitted to go to work.
Health Minister Chen Shih-chung says the new rule has been termed the "0 7" plan and will allow for medical resources to be concentrated more on patients with moderate to severe symptoms. According to Chen, data from other countries shows that people who have received a booster shot are at a reduced risk of severe illness and are less infectious.
Household contacts who have not yet received a third vaccine dose will still have to follow the "3 4" isolation protocol, which means isolating at home for three days, followed by four days of "self-initiated epidemic prevention.
This comes as the CECC reported another 61,754 new coronavirus cases on Monday, of which 61,697 cases were domestic infections and 57 imported cases. A majority of the new cases were reported in New Taipei, with 19,898, followed by Taipei with 9,274, and Taoyuan with 8,635 cases. The CECC says 126 people had developed moderate symptoms, while 22 had developed severe infections. Meanwhile, 29 new deaths were being reported. All but one of the patients had a chronic illness or suffered from severe diseases and 16 of them were unvaccinated. That brings the death toll to 1,097 since the pandemic began.
