Taiwan is seeing a drop in the number of domestic COVID-19 cases. The country is likely to lift its Level 3 COVID-19 alert on July 12 as planned. However, authorities and a medical expert are suggesting adjustments to regulations once restrictions are loosened.
As the number of Taiwan’s domestic cases of COVID-19 drops, the long-extended nationwide Level 3 COVID alert is expected to be lifted on July 12. However the Central Epidemic Command Center is not going to let its guard down.
The center says that if there is a new outbreak, it will impose different measures on different sectors of the economy, stopping dining in at restaurants, marketplaces, and night markets in particular.
Dr. Ko Chang of the infectious diseases department at Kaohsiung Municipal Siaogang Hospital has outlined some rules dining establishments must follow to prevent a new outbreak.
Chang said that seating should still be arranged so that customers practice social distancing. Meanwhile, all employees should work on shifts so that fewer people are working at the same time. Every dining establishment, including street vendors, should have QR codes that customers can scan to let the government know they’ve been there. Chang said once a customer tests positive for COVID, the establishment must perform contact tracing by reviewing surveillance footage.
While it’s possible Level 3 restrictions could be lifted, there are still risks involved, and it remains to be seen how well Taiwan will manage to keep COVID from coming back.