With domestic COVID-19 cases on the rise in Taiwan, people are worried that the COVID alert level would soon be raised from the current Level 2 to Level 3. A Taiwan epidemiologist says that since the sources of most local infections are known, he doesn’t see the need to raise the alert level yet.
This restaurant owner is serving up a bowl of delicious hot soup. People are enjoying nice hot food at this eatery while it’s cold outside. Life in Taiwan is still relatively normal, but when a woman is asked if she’s worried that the COVID alert level would be raised, she said she is. She said people’s daily lives will be affected and there will be many restrictions. But she said it seems everything is under control in Taipei. Another woman said she’s not that worried because she thinks everyone is taking precautions.
Domestic cases jumped to a new high this year on Monday with 17 new cases in Taiwan. That’s after a long stretch of zero cases. Some doctors are advising the public to get their booster shots. Epidemiologist Lin Shi-bi said 17 cases sound like a lot, but since all contacts have been traceable for each case, people have no need to panic. He said he doesn’t see the need to raise the current COVID alert level.
Health Minister Chen Shih-chung however admitted that there must be some cases yet unaccounted for. The biggest concern for local communities at this stage is possible transmission chains that might still be hidden.