Taiwan is battling its worst COVID-19 outbreak since the pandemic began. But, a dip in confirmed cases on May 30 has people wondering if we’re past the worst of it.
Taiwan’s daily confirmed COVID-19 cases reached triple digits for the first time on May 15, and the country has continued to post hundreds of new cases every day. The country is currently at Level 3 pandemic alert – the second highest level. The question on everyone’s mind is: ‘when will this thing end?’ On May 30, daily case numbers reached their lowest point since the beginning of this outbreak. This has people wondering if Taiwan is on the road to recovery.
National Taiwan University Public Health Professor Chen Hsiu-hsi says there’s reason to be optimistic. He says that if Taiwan’s daily confirmed cases fall to double digits, there’s a chance that the government will ease restrictions on June 14, the tentative end-date for the Level 3 alert. Chen says people need to stay vigilant in order to make that possible.
However, not everyone agrees with Chen’s take. One doctor at Taipei City Hospital says he knows about more COVID-related deaths that the government has not yet announced. Another doctor says that out of every 12 COVID patients he takes in, about five are severe cases. He says that there’s a chance COVID-related deaths may not have peaked yet.
For now, the safest thing to do is wear a mask, wash your hands and stay home.