The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) yesterday extended a nationwide level 3 COVID-19 alert to July 26, although some measures are to be relaxed on Tuesday next week.
The alert was first issued on May 15 in Taipei and New Taipei City, before being expanded nationwide four days later. It was to expire on Monday next week, but was extended for a fourth time yesterday.
The nation is “very close” to having indicators fall below the criteria for a level 3 alert, Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中), who heads the center, told a daily news briefing in Taipei.
Photo: Chen Feng-li, Taipei Times
According to CECC guidelines, a level 3 COVID-19 alert is activated when there have been more than three community clusters in a single week, or more than 10 domestic cases with unknown sources of infection in a single day.
“We think we should still be cautious,” Chen said.
Although the alert would remain in effect, restrictions are to be eased moderately and on a conditional basis, he said.
Local governments are to be allowed to make adjustments, he said.
Prohibitions on wedding banquets and public funerals would remain, said Deputy Minister of the Interior Chen Tsung-yen (陳宗彥), the CECC’s deputy head.
Religious sites can apply with local authorities to reopen, as long as they cap attendance at 99 people and follow ministry guidelines, Chen Tsung-yen said.
Other religious activities, including Ghost Festival celebrations, remain suspended, he said.
National parks would enforce crowd controls and operate at 40 percent capacity, calculated based on the number of parking spaces, he said.
Mountain lodges and protected areas in national parks, as well as beaches within the jurisdiction of Kenting National Park, would remain closed to the public, he said.
Public libraries are to be allowed to lend books at a single counter, although members of the public would generally not be permitted inside, Deputy Minister of Education Lio Mon-chi (劉孟奇) said.
Outdoor fields at elementary, junior high and high schools may open for exercise activities while abiding by local authorities’ measures, Lio said.
However, sports facilities and other installations at fields may not be used, he said, adding that eating and drinking are also prohibited.
Indoor and outdoor exercise and sports venues may function at up to 25 percent capacity, he said.
People may not share equipment, and must avoid physical contact and competitions, he said.
Restrooms and changing rooms may be used if they are properly cleaned and disinfected, Lio said.
Swimming pools, showers, saunas and steam rooms would not be open, he added.
Group and one-on-one instructors must undergo a rapid antigen test before restarting classes and be tested every seven days thereafter, he said.
Class sizes must be reduced and scheduled at least one hour apart to allow for cleaning and disinfection, Lio said.
Exhibition venues may open to visitors with appointments, with no more than 100 people allowed in at a time, Deputy Minister of Culture Hsiao Tsung-huang (蕭宗煌) said.
Performance venues may hold closed-door rehearsals, Hsiao said.
Movie theaters are advised to use advance booking systems, he said, adding that audiences would not be allowed to eat or drink.
Film crews must fill out health declaration forms and are recommended to undergo rapid screening for COVID-19 three days before shooting begins, he said.
During filming, they should be screened for COVID-19 at least once a week, Hsiao said.
While unexpected issues are bound to arise as restrictions are relaxed, the center would review the measures on a rolling basis, Chen Shih-chung said.
The goal is to lower the COVID-19 alert level after July 26, he said, urging the nation to work together to achieve the goal.
Tropical Storm Usagi strengthened to a typhoon yesterday morning and remains on track to brush past southeastern Taiwan from tomorrow to Sunday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. As of 2pm yesterday, the storm was approximately 950km east-southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan proper’s southernmost point, the CWA said. It is expected to enter the Bashi Channel and then turn north, moving into waters southeast of Taiwan, it said. The agency said it could issue a sea warning in the early hours of today and a land warning in the afternoon. As of 2pm yesterday, the storm was moving at
UPDATED FORECAST: The warning covered areas of Pingtung County and Hengchun Peninsula, while a sea warning covering the southern Taiwan Strait was amended The Central Weather Administration (CWA) at 5:30pm yesterday issued a land warning for Typhoon Usagi as the storm approached Taiwan from the south after passing over the Philippines. As of 5pm, Usagi was 420km south-southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan proper’s southernmost tip, with an average radius of 150km, the CWA said. The land warning covered areas of Pingtung County and the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春), and came with an amended sea warning, updating a warning issued yesterday morning to cover the southern part of the Taiwan Strait. No local governments had announced any class or office closures as of press time last night. The typhoon
At least 35 people were killed and dozens more injured when a man plowed his car into pedestrians exercising around a sports center in the southern Chinese city of Zhuhai on Monday night. Footage showing bodies lying on the pavement appeared on social media in the hours after the crash, but had vanished by early Tuesday morning, and local police reported only “injuries.” It took officials nearly 24 hours to reveal that dozens had died — in one of the country’s deadliest incidents in years. China heavily monitors social media platforms, where it is common for words and topics deemed
Typhoon Usagi yesterday had weakened into a tropical storm, but a land warning issued by the Central Weather Administration (CWA) was still in effect in four areas in southern Taiwan. As of 5pm yesterday, Tropical Storm Usagi was over waters 120km south-southwest of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), the southernmost tip of Taiwan proper, and was moving north at 9kph, CWA data showed. The storm was expected to veer northeast later yesterday. It had maximum sustained winds of 101kph, with gusts of up to 126kph, the data showed. The CWA urged residents of Kaohsiung, Pingtung County, Taitung County and the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春) to remain alert to
RSS