Taiwan’s confirmed cases have risen in the last four days compared with the previous week. Deputy Health Minister Wang Pi-sheng (王必勝) says the cases are due to the new looser restrictions and warns numbers will increase during the upcoming holiday season.
10,824 new local cases of COVID-19 were confirmed on Monday. Wang says the number of local confirmed cases has been dropping for nine consecutive weeks, but it is estimated to have bottomed out and will rise in the near future.
The health ministry warns that if China relaxes their travel epidemic policies for the upcoming Lunar New Year celebrations, the case numbers in Taiwan will increase. China currently requires outbound passengers to undergo PCR screening though whether it will continue is currently uncertain. Taiwan’s epidemic prevention control center is considering whether to increase prevention and control policies for travelers entering the country.
Large-scale infections broke out after concerts held in South Korea after the nation loosened their restrictions recently. Wang says large public gatherings carry a very high risk of spreading diseases. For the upcoming Christmas, New Year's Eve, and Lunar New Year festivities, it is recommended that the public wear masks, refrain from eating and drinking amidst crowds, and maintain social distance. Also, those who have symptoms should not participate in large scale events.