The CDC is reporting a sharp increase in domestic COVID-19 cases, with numbers reaching nearly 10,000 last week, a rise of nearly 70% from the previous week. CDC spokesperson Lo Yi-chun (羅一鈞) warns that the wave of transmissions is estimated to reach its peak in June.
According to recent CDC statistics, confirmed cases have been rising for five consecutive weeks at a rapid rate, with 34 new severe cases and 6 deaths within the last seven days. More than 90% of severe and fatal cases have not received the JN.1 vaccine. Lo reported that as of May 11, a total of 2.1 million people had been vaccinated with the COVID-19 JN.1 vaccine, which is a national vaccination rate of only 8.75%. He called on the public to get vaccinated as soon as possible before the peak of the epidemic, as the vaccine takes 2 weeks to produce protection.
CDC Preventive Medicine Office researcher Lin Yung-Ching (林詠青) reminded that although most COVID-19 infections are mild or asymptomatic, they may still develop into moderate or severe cases. He said that the public should pay special attention to the warning symptoms of severe cases: fever for more than 48 hours, high fever with chills or cold sweats, wheezing and labored breathing, poor consciousness, inability to eat, pale or purple lips, and significantly reduced urine output. Lin advised to go to the hospital immediately if relevant warning signs appear.