Jubilee Post News & Views
- Taiwan decides toughest curbs amid infections spike
- Taiwan government makes masks must for outdoors
Special Desk
Amid rising cases of covid-19 the Taiwan government has imposed its toughest restrictions so far shutting down cinemas and entertainment venues until 28 May, while limiting gatherings to a max five indoors and 10 outdoors.
President Tsai Ing-wen urged the people not to panic-buy basic necessities. The worry comes as Taiwan, which has so far survived the pandemic almost unscathed on Sunday reported 207 new infection cases.
The island of 23 million people has recorded 1,682 infections and 12 Covid-related deaths since the start of the pandemic, which had kept people in Taiwan almost safe.
Taiwan’s impressive success battling the coronavirus has been largely attributed to early and strict border controls, a ban on foreign visitors and mandatory quarantine for all Taiwanese returning home.
The Taiwan government has said masks must be now worn outdoors, urging people to work and study from home. The capital Taipei remains the main infections hotspot, forcing the city authorities to raise the coronavirus alert there to Level 3.
Taiwan has four Covid-19 response levels, and the Level 3 alert stops just short of lockdown, local media say. This is unprecedented, as Taiwan has until now not had to resort to such restrictions since the outbreak began.
In addition, shoppers across the island are being restricted to buying just two items of some goods after supermarket shelves were emptied in recent days. President Tsai has warned that panic-buying would only increase the risk of Covid clusters.
Instant noodles and food in general, as well as toilet paper, was available in sufficient quantities and could easily be stored again by retailers, the president was quoted as saying by a new organisation in Taiwan.
