TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The number of COVID-19-related outpatient and emergency department visits in Taiwan more than doubled last week to 10,605, reports said Tuesday.
The figure marked an increase of 117.4% from the previous week, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Last week, there were also 42 severe COVID-19 cases and two deaths, per Liberty Times.
The CDC advised the public to wash their hands frequently and wear masks when necessary. High-risk groups should also complete COVID-19 vaccination, the agency said, reminding the public that summer is peak travel season and case numbers are rising both in Taiwan and overseas.
Since last October, 25 people have died of COVID-19, while 203 have been listed as severe cases. The CDC said 73.4% of severe cases and deaths involved patients 65 or older, 83.7% involved people with chronic diseases, and 90.6% involved people who had not been vaccinated against COVID-19.
Last weekend, the CDC said it was extending its publicly funded vaccination program until Sept. 28, with 437,000 vaccine doses still available.
CDC Director-General Lo Yi-chun (羅一鈞) predicted the number of COVID-19 cases will peak at 51,000 per week in mid-August, before schools reopen in September.
