Health authorities in Taiwan are scrambling to contain an outbreak which has seen over 700 new locally-transmitted COVID-19 cases in just three days. Taipei City has set up five rapid testing sites, but anxious citizens are still facing long lines and lengthy waits to get their tests done.
Long lines form outside of a park in Taipei City’s Wanhua District. Everyone here is waiting to get tested for COVID-19. This is one of the hardest hit neighborhoods as Taiwan sees record-breaking numbers of new COVID-19 cases. Officials have now placed Taipei and New Taipei City under a Level 3 alert.
But testing sites are swamped, and that means people cannot get a test on the same day they register. Anxious citizens hoping to get tested have to wait… And, as we all know, waiting is the hardest part. This testing site has two lines. One line is for people registering for COVID-19 tests on the next day. The other one administers tests to people who already registered the day before.
Officials are taking zero risks. Everyone queuing up needs to wear a mask. Health workers at the testing site are dressed in full PPE, with masks, face shields, gloves, and shoe guards. People passing through the testing site are sprayed down with disinfectant.
Taipei City Government is offering two hundred COVID-19 tests a day at each of its five testing sites. Neighboring New Taipei City has also set up testing sites of its own. If northern Taiwan is to contain this outbreak, testing, testing, and more testing will be key.