Taiwan reports record Covid-19 deaths, spike in local cases
- Wednesday’s death toll of 159 was a record for a single day, while new infections crossed 80,000 for the second time
- It comes as the island has been looking at easing border restrictions and shortening quarantine for business travellers
Another 80,195 local infections were reported on Wednesday, according to the Central Epidemic Command Centre. It marks the second time the island’s daily case numbers have crossed the 80,000 mark after five straight days hovering near 60,000.
Taiwan has been grappling with a surge in cases since the end of April, and command centre spokesman Chuang Jen-hsiang told reporters on Tuesday that new case numbers could drop below 10,000 by the end of June – but he said it was not likely they would fall below 1,000 a day by then.
It comes as Taiwan has been considering easing border restrictions and shortening quarantine for business travellers – Health Minister Chen Shih-chung has said any changes would be announced this month. At present, arrivals must quarantine for seven days and monitor their health for a further seven days after that.
01:27
Taiwan’s coronavirus cases reach new record as island moves away from zero-Covid policy
Of the deaths reported on Wednesday, the youngest person was in their 20s while the oldest was in their 90s. Most had a history of chronic illness, and 71 of those who died had not been vaccinated, according to the command centre.
Three children infected with the virus are being treated for severe complications. The youngest is a four-year-old girl with epilepsy who is believed to have contracted meningitis after getting Covid-19.