Indoor masking requirements in Taiwan will be relaxed at the end of January. That announcement came during a Epidemic Command Center (CECC) press conference on Thursday.
CECC head Wang Pi-sheng (王必勝) says relaxing indoor mask mandates has been discussed with experts, who confirm that the most recent Omicron peak has passed. With case numbers declining, the plan is to loosen regulations but urge people to take another booster shot this year to enhance protection.
Wang says although the overall vaccine coverage rate in Taiwan is high in comparison to global averages, the elderly vaccination rate is still relatively low. He is calling on eligible seniors to take the next-generation vaccine as soon as possible.
While indoor masking will not be mandatory in most places, the CECC reminds the public that it will still be necessary in some of them. Medical facilities, long term care institutions, and closed public transportation vehicles will still require masks.