Visits to nursing home residents and patients staying in medical facilities have been restricted in six high-risk COVID-19 areas in Taiwan due to the rapid spread of the disease, Health Minister Chen Shih-chung (???) said Friday.
The restrictions were introduced in Keelung, Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan, Kaohsiung, and Hualien County, effective immediately, to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in hospitals and nursing homes, Chen said Friday at a Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) briefing.
The six areas have been designated as areas at high risk for COVID-19 because they have had more new domestic COVID-19 cases than other cities and counties in Taiwan since the start of April, when single-day case numbers rose above 100 for the first time this year.
Under the new restrictions, general visits are banned in high-risk areas, except in certain situations or when the visits are deemed necessary by medical institutions or nursing homes, Chen said.
The exceptions for visits to hospitals, Chen said, include when the presence of a relative is required for patients undergoing surgeries or invasive exams or treatments, or when a relative is needed to sign legal documents related to a medical procedure.
Visits can also be allowed when a patient is treated in the emergency room or intensive care or hospice care unit, where discussions with family members are considered essential, Chen said.
It will be up to the hospital to decide if such visits are to be permitted, he said.
The exceptions for visits to nursing homes will be determined by the facilities themselves, Chen said.
Vaccination requirements for visits
While visits to inpatients and nursing home residents are still allowed in cities and counties outside the six high-risk areas, Chen said all visitors still needed to show proof of having received three COVID-19 vaccine jabs at least 14 days prior to their visit.
People who have not received the three jabs can alternatively present a negative COVID-19 test taken on the day of the visit or show proof that they had the disease and completed quarantine in the past three months, he added.
On Friday, Taiwan reported 3,859 new COVID-19 cases, including 3,766 locally transmitted infections, and the six high-risk areas all recorded 100 or more domestic cases, with New Taipei having the day’s highest number of 1,325 cases, according to the CECC.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel