Taiwan targets zero serious Covid-19 cases amid gradual rise in infections
- Faced with the Omicron variant, the strategy is not complete eradication, President Tsai Ing-wen says
- 281 new domestic cases reported on Wednesday, but government confident that measures already in place will be effective
Unlike large parts of the rest of the world, Taiwan has kept the pandemic well under control with strict and early control measures, including an efficient contact tracing system and largely closing its borders.
Since the beginning of this year, Taiwan has reported 2,061 domestic cases, with only five people classified as being seriously ill and just one death.
But daily infections are rising, with 281 new domestic cases reported on Wednesday, and the government is on alert even though the numbers remain comparatively low.
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In a Facebook post after a high-level meeting on the island’s Covid-19 situation, Tsai said that faced with the Omicron variant, which spreads rapidly though generally without causing major illness, the strategy was not complete eradication.