With Taiwan relaxing Covid restrictions, doctors fear an upsurge in various viruses during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday.
Little Meibao was enjoying her winter vacation. That is until a case of norovirus left her sick and in bed for days.
Health experts are afraid that as Taiwan eases Covid restrictions, this winter may see a three year high in cases of Covid, flu, and other respiratory viruses in children. They say emergency room wait times at hospitals may reach three to four hours during the Lunar New Year holiday.
Dr. Chen Wan-te (陳萬得) says because of circumstances like more people going out during the holiday, he expects emergency room cases to increase by 20% to 30%.
Experts say because of people traveling during the week-long holiday, another peak may come after the new year.
Dr. Li Chien-chang (李建璋) says with throngs of Taiwanese visiting countries facing Covid peaks like Japan and China, the country will see more imported cases, increasing transmission.
Doctors recommend parents stock up on rapid tests and medicine as they prepare for new year festivities. Only then can they safeguard the new year’s most important gift: time together with family.