The JN.1 COVID-19 cases are on the rise in China, according to data from the Chinese Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Taiwan CDC Deputy Director Tseng Shu-Hui (曾淑慧) stated on Friday that the new strain accounts for most of the severe cases and deaths in February, numbers that have increased significantly compared to the month prior.
Tseng says that China has reported a steadily rising test positivity rate of 14.3%, but with fewer people seeking testing or treatment for symptoms, the actual positivity rate is likely higher. In February, the Chinese CDC recorded 358 new critical cases and 22 deaths, up from 134 cases and 3 deaths in January.
With COVID-19 numbers in Taiwan declining slowly, Tseng says that the public is more open to traveling and attending large-scale gatherings such as the Mazu pilgrimage. She emphasizes that people are advised to maintain personal hygiene while sightseeing or participating in activities but should also be vaccinated against COVID-19 XBB and influenza to enhance personal protection. As currently only about 20,000 doses of publicly funded influenza vaccine remain, the CDC calls on unvaccinated or especially high-risk groups such as those over 65 years old to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Tseng states that the CDC will continue to monitor the epidemic in China and will keep the public informed.