Taiwan authorities said they would not necessarily follow suit after China announced late on Monday that it would downgrade COVID-19 from a Class A to Class B infectious disease.Chinese authorities officially changed the Chinese name of the virus from “new coronavirus pneumonia” (新型冠狀病毒肺炎) to “new coronavirus infection” (新型冠狀病毒感染). Effective January 8, China will also cease requiring quarantine for people entering the country, eliminate the sealed control of COVID-19 cases, and designations of high-risk areas.
Commander of the Taiwan Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC), Wang Pi-sheng, stated that changing the name of the virus does not change the nature of the virus. Wang stated that such a downgrade in China will affect the whole world, and is especially convenient to those wishing to work, study or travel in China. As to whether or not Taiwan would also downgrade the virus, Wang stated that the center has considered this for a long time, and takes many factors into account. He further stated that Taiwan will follow its own path in winding down epidemic prevention measures.