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Taiwan reports first domestic BA.5 variant cases
Taiwan reports first domestic BA.5 variant cases
7 July 2022
Those picking up family members or friends returning from overseas at the airport should wear gloves and keep their vehicle windows open to reduce the spread of Covid-19. This advice comes, after the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) says two Taichung residents have become the first reported domestic cases of the BA.5 Omicron subvariant of Covid-19 in Taiwan after they contracted the disease from family members returning from overseas.
The travellers returned to Taiwan from the United States on 19 June and were picked up at the airport by their brother and mother. The five individuals were either asymptomatic or had only mild symptoms.
Health officials say the woman's brother and mother likely contracted the disease during the car ride from Taoyuan International Airport to Taichung, even though all five people wore masks throughout the entire journey. There is no sign the infection has entered into the community.
The CECC reported 34,577 new Covid-19 cases on Wednesday, all but 78 of which were domestic infections, and 95 deaths from the disease. The deceased ranged in age from a one-year-old to over 90. 37 of those who died were unvaccinated, while 87 had chronic illnesses or other severe diseases, the CECC said. Among the eight people who had no chronic illnesses or severe diseases, two were unvaccinated, three had received two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine, and three had received three shots, the CECC said. With the death of the one-year-old child, the number of Covid-19 fatalities in the under-13 age group in Taiwan rose to 22.
