Taiwan Faces Surge in COVID-19 Cases... Debating Between Control and Easing Measures

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[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] As the number of COVID-19 cases surges in Taiwan, local authorities are caught between 'With Corona' and 'Zero Corona' strategies. They face a choice between following Hong Kong's strict control measures or hastening a New Zealand-style return to normalcy.

On the 18th (local time), Bloomberg reported that the daily new confirmed cases in Taiwan reached a record high of 1,390 the previous day. Chen Shih-chung, Taiwan's Minister of Health, stated at a briefing on the 15th, "The scale of the epidemic is currently increasing," adding, "Taiwan could see tens of thousands, or possibly millions, of cases." He further emphasized, "What matters is not the number of confirmed cases but whether the situation can be prevented."

Taiwan's border controls, mandatory mask-wearing, and contact tracing strategies have so far been effective in controlling the spread, lowering the unemployment rate to its lowest level in over 21 years. However, businesses are eager for the borders to reopen as soon as possible. Approximately 91% of members of the American Chamber of Commerce consider the gradual reopening of borders and easing of travel restrictions to be very important. Winston Chao, an economist at Taishin Securities, stressed, "Border reopening is crucial for Taiwan to attract foreign investors who contribute more to the economy than tourists."

Taiwan has currently shortened mandatory quarantine to 10 days, and many cities have indicated that contact tracing may no longer be feasible. According to the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control, 99% of confirmed cases in Taiwan this year have been mild or asymptomatic. Considering this, the report suggests that Taiwan is leaning toward a gradual transition to With Corona. President Tsai Ing-wen also stated that authorities will balance economic needs with public health risks.

However, Taiwan's status as one of the fastest aging countries in the world increases the risks associated with With Corona. Among the population aged 12 and older, 16% have not been vaccinated. Yet, 72% of those aged 75 and above have completed vaccination. The report highlights this as a positive aspect compared to Hong Kong's outbreak, where most COVID-19 deaths were among the elderly.

Professor Chen Shuxi of National Taiwan University's School of Public Health explained, "The fundamental reason Taiwan is reluctant to reopen is the unvaccinated population and the waning effectiveness of the second vaccine dose." Additionally, public opinion polls show that residents feel less threatened by the Omicron variant than by Delta, but many still feel anxious about reopening. Furthermore, the report notes that the government's epidemic control measures are expected to influence Taiwan's local elections in November this year.

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