TAIPEI – Taiwan today ordered stricter social-distancing measures for its capital and surrounding areas after a sudden spike in coronavirus cases in a place that has so far weathered the pandemic comparatively unscathed.
Authorities raised the alert level for Taipei and New Taipei City following confirmation of 180 new local infections, up from 29 the previous day.
The new restrictions mean no more than five people can gather indoors and 10 outdoors – but authorities stopped short of ordering a total lockdown.
Schools, government offices, workplaces and most businesses can stay open so long as social distancing can be maintained and masks are worn at all times.
“We will closely monitor in the next few days the development of the epidemic and adjust (closures) accordingly,” said Health Minister Chen Shih-chung.
Taiwan has been hailed as a global leader in containing Covid-19, with just 1,500 cases and 12 deaths, and minimal social distancing needed once its initial outbreak was quelled.
As a result, the island was one of the few industrialised economies to grow last year.
The latest measures come a day after authorities ordered an indefinite closure of entertainment venues in the wake of the widening outbreak.
The order covers bars, dance clubs, karaoke lounges, nightclubs, saunas and internet cafes, as well as hostess clubs and teahouses.
Municipal facilities including libraries and sports centres will also be closed.
A similar cluster centred on a hospital led to the suspension of large-scale Lantern Festival events during Chinese New Year in February.
That outbreak was quickly brought under control.
However, the current cluster appears to be larger and more widespread.
Taiwan has ordered millions of vaccine doses from Moderna and AstraZeneca.
Only a small number of the latter has arrived, and until this week, public take-up of the immunisation scheme had been very low. – AFP, May 15, 2021
