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Premier tests positive for Covid
Premier Su tseng-chang has tested positive for Covid-19. Su felt ill after spending the morning at the Legislative Yuan, and he returned home to quarantine for seven days with mild symptoms after a Covid-19 rapid test he took came out positive.
The Presidential Office says President Tsai Ing-wen has offered well wishes to the premier, urging him to rest and recover.
They last met in-person on the 15th, though Tsai has not shown any symptoms, and a medical team will keep an eye on the president's health. During his isolation period, Su will continue to keep in touch with the president to ensure smooth progress of state affairs.
This comes as the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) reported 44,884 new coronavirus cases today and 33 new deaths. Of that total, 44,846 were domestic infections.
New Taipei is reporting the highest number of new cases, with 7,920. That's followed by Taichung with 5,835 and Kaohsiung with 5,375 cases.
The CECC says 44,884 newly reported infections are an increase of 8.4% from last week and the latest figures suggest the pandemic is still plateauing here in Taiwan.
Health officials say 69 previously reported cases have now been listed as severe, while 33 others have developed moderate symptoms.
The deceased ranged in age from their 60s to 90s. All but six had underlying health issues, and 17 were unvaccinated. It brings the number of coronavirus-related deaths here in Taiwan since the pandemic began to 11,994.
