A recent spike in COVID-19 cases has many people concerned about the capacity of Taiwan’s healthcare system. Is there reason to worry? Central Epidemic Command Center experts remain cautiously optimistic.
Eighty-three, thirty-four, thirty-three. Over the past six days, Taiwan has reported double-digit local COVID-19 infections daily. Some people are worried that Taiwan’s healthcare system hangs in the balance.
Dr. Chang Shan-chwen from Taiwan’s Central Epidemic Command Center says that Taiwan can only estimate what kind of impact thousands or tens of thousands of cases would have on Taiwan’s healthcare system.
Chang says there’s no need to panic. He says securing medical supplies and separating patients based on symptom severity is a good way to prevent overwhelming the system. He says only serious cases should be admitted to hospital while milder cases would be sent to quarantine facilities.
However, Taiwan has seen over 200 new cases of COVID in just 6 days. Does that mean the pandemic alert level should go up?
Health Minister Chen Shih-chung says that previous standards for determining COVID alert levels no longer apply.
Chang Shan-chwen, on the other hand, says that people should continue adhering to COVID-19 regulations.
Taiwan shouldn’t be raising its COVID-19 alert level anytime soon, but some restrictions have been tightened.
Vaccination remains the best way to protect the population against COVID-19. But with only 70% second-dose coverage in the 75 and up age group, it seems Taiwan still has a long way to go.
Tomasz Koper, RTI News