'Taiwan, a "Quarantine Model," Faces COVID Resurgence... "Community Transmission Begins"'

[Photo by Taiwan Centers for Disease Control capture]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] Taiwan, recognized as a model country for COVID-19 prevention, has raised alarms among health authorities as community infections have been consecutively confirmed.

According to Taiwanese media on the 12th, health authorities announced that a woman in her 30s working at an adult entertainment venue in Luodong, Yilan County in the northeast, tested positive for COVID-19 the previous day. The authorities explained that three of her coworkers and a male customer in his 30s at the venue were also confirmed positive.

Additionally, a man who showed symptoms since the 7th was confirmed positive, and 115 close contacts were placed under self-quarantine. A woman in her 40s, family member of a male airline pilot in his 40s who tested positive on the 10th, was confirmed positive on the 11th.

In this regard, Chen Shih-chung, Taiwan's Minister of Health and Welfare, stated, "The COVID-19 situation has already entered community transmission."

Minister Chen also explained that due to the occurrence of domestic infections with unknown sources, the COVID alert level will be raised from level 2 to level 4 from the 11th until the 8th of next month.

Accordingly, indoor gatherings of more than 100 people and outdoor gatherings of more than 500 people will be prohibited, and visits to hospitals and long-term care facilities nationwide will be completely banned, Minister Chen announced.

Local governments including Taipei have taken measures such as postponing graduation trips, banning food sampling in large stores, postponing or canceling concerts and boat races, and controlling the number of visitors at night markets and popular tourist sites.

The Taiwan Professional Baseball League (CPBL) also recommended mask-wearing, prohibition of food consumption, and social distancing seating arrangements for spectators at baseball stadiums as of the previous day.

Dr. Chang Chang-neng, an infectious disease specialist at Shin Kong Hospital, said, "There has ultimately been a breach in prevention," adding that "the next week, when COVID-19 patients may reappear, is the most critical turning point."

Meanwhile, as of the previous day, Taiwan has reported 1,210 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 12 deaths.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.