Taiwan’s Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) reported 7,080 new cases of COVID-19 and 45 deaths from the disease on Monday.
Domestic cases declined by 8.6 percent compared with the previous week to reach a 314-day low of 6,928, according to the CECC.
With the daily reported cases on the decline, spokesperson Lo Yi-chun (???) said that following discussions with experts, the CECC expects to further ease pandemic prevention measures in March.
First of three phases of COVID-19 protocols easing
According to Lo, under the relaxed rules, mild cases will not be required to isolate or report their infections.
In addition, those with mild or asymptomatic infections who are hospitalized for other reasons will be able to stay in general wards, Lo said.
Lo added that individuals with moderate to serious symptoms as well as those who developed pneumonia or other serious respiratory illnesses will be treated in specialty wards.
In addition, medical workers will only have to wear face masks for medical or surgical use when doing noncontact inquiries, Lo said.
If they have physical contact with patients, such as when taking blood pressure or body temperature, they can wear an extra pair of gloves, and they will not be asked to wear waterproof isolation gowns as long as their hands are clean.
Lo said they will inform all medical institutions of the new rules above this week, though he did not give any specific date.
To date, Taiwan has recorded 10,112,117 COVID-19 infections and 18,248 deaths from the disease since the pandemic began in early 2020.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel