Taiwan reported 83 new local cases of COVID-19 on Sunday. Health authorities also reported 120 more imported cases among people arriving in Taiwan. There were no deaths reported. This is the highest number of local cases since June 7, 2021 when Taiwan saw 88 local cases.
The biggest cluster is connected to a Hsinchu dormitory where 50 out of 68 people living in a dormitory tested positive. Of these cases, 47 are Thai and three are Taiwanese. There were also two new cases from this company bringing the total cluster to 52 people. The dormitory is a part of the Datan Power Plant expansion project in Taoyuan.
Another cluster of high concern is centered around a karaoke bar in Keelung. This cluster has seen 27 confirmed cases so far. Eight of them are employees, eight of them are police officers, seven are customers and four are contacts. Keelung is setting up testing centers and the police force there is currently being tested.
Since this cluster revolves around a bar providing adult entertainment, customers to these types of businesses throughout Taiwan will now need to show proof of having three COVID-19 vaccines before entering. They will also need to leave their name and phone number.
Throughout Taiwan, people working in adult entertainment venues will now need to have received three vaccines, if it has been three months since their second jab. They will also need to be tested for COVID-19 weekly from now until April 30. There are over 220 such places in Keelung. Their operations have been suspended for mass testing. They will only be allowed to open if workers test negative. Once they open, workers must also be tested every other day for the first two weeks after reopening.
The Keelung mayor is also undergoing quarantine for 10 days because he was not wearing a mask on stage at an award ceremony where he had come in contact with one of the police officers who contracted COVID-19.
Of the other domestic cases, four were members of the same family in Taitung.
Another cluster began with a person who was taking care of a patient. This person spread it to two friends when they went hiking together. One of those friends passed it on to two colleagues.
Another two cases were from a factory cluster in Kaohsiung. They were both in quarantine and had earlier tested negative so they are not deemed a threat to the community.
Of the imported cases, 88 were confirmed upon arrival and 32 in quarantine. Of the arrivals yesterday, 7.87% tested positive for COVID-19.
Regarding the upcoming holiday in April, Health Minister Chen Shih-chung did not suggest any further measures except for people to keep wearing a mask and avoid unnecessary contact with strangers.