Coronavirus Taiwan - Specific Developments 2023

[MalcolmReynolds]

Covid Stats For 2023-03-16

Local = 8,855

Imported = 207

Deaths = 37

Beginning March 20th, mild cases of COVID-19 are exempt from notification and quarantine. People with mild cases who are positive for rapid screening should seek medical attention immediately if they have severe symptoms. People with high-risk diagnoses can still be prescribed oral antiviral drugs if they meet conditions.

Release date: 2023-03-16

Summary

The Central Epidemic Command Center stated today (16th) that the domestic epidemic situation continues to be stable and at a low point, and the measures for people with mild or asymptomatic positive tests to be exempted from notification and quarantine will be implemented from March 20 (the day of individual case inspection). After the public has a positive quick test, if they have severe symptoms, or are elderly over 65 years old, pregnant women, or those with a history of chronic diseases, please seek medical treatment as soon as possible, so that doctors can evaluate and prescribe public-funded oral antiviral drugs in order to reduce the risk of complications or death after infection.

The command center explained that although most COVID-19 infections are mild or asymptomatic cases, there is still a chance that the course of the disease will develop into moderate to severe cases. After the people are quickly screened positive, if the following warning symptoms appear, including wheezing or difficulty breathing, persistent chest pain Or chest tightness, unconsciousness, blue skin/lips or nail beds, inability to eat/drink or take medication, no urine or significant decrease in urine output in the past 24 hours , please call 119 immediately, or ask your relatives and friends to pick you up, or walk or drive to the doctor by yourself. The command center specially reminds those over 65 years old, pregnant women, postpartum (within six weeks postpartum), chronic diseases (asthma, cancer, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, chronic pneumonia, tuberculosis, chronic liver disease, disability, mental illness, disability, etc.) People with mental illness, smoking, BMI≧30, etc.) or people with diseases that affect immune function are high-risk subjects who may cause complications after being infected with COVID-19. If the rapid screening is positive, please seek medical treatment as soon as possible to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment Immediate oral antiviral drugs.

The command center pointed out that the use of “publicly funded oral antiviral drugs for the treatment of COVID-19” has also been adjusted simultaneously from March 20. If you are a high-risk person with a positive test result, you should seek medical treatment as soon as possible and be evaluated by a doctor. Those who are within 5 days of onset and meet the drug application conditions for severe risk factors in the “Guidelines for the Clinical Treatment of Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 Infection” can have a prescription for oral antiviral drugs for COVID-19 by a physician, and they can be sent to more than 2,700 hospitals across the country Oral antiviral drug contract institutions receive drug treatment. When prescribing or dispensing COVID-19 oral antiviral drugs, medical institutions can independently upload IC card drug operations to grasp the flow of drug use.

The command center further stated that since children are less likely to be seriously ill after being infected than adults, and children are less good at expressing their feelings, for example, after a child at home is tested positive, they have a fever for more than 48 hours or a high fever of more than 39 degrees combined with chills/cold sweats , persistent or poor activity after fever subsides, persistent shortness of breath/wheezing/chest tightness and chest pain after fever subsides, persistent vomiting/headache or abdominal pain, not eating or urinating for more than 12 hours, please take them to the doctor as soon as possible; if convulsions, Myoclonic convulsions, unsteady gait, poor consciousness or persistent drowsiness, dyspnea or chest depression, pale or purple lips, blood oxygen saturation lower than 94%, cold limbs with mottled skin, cold sweat , Body temperature greater than 41 degrees and other symptoms, please send to the hospital for treatment immediately.

The command center appeals that after the new system of exempting from isolation for mild cases starts on March 20, people with mild symptoms or asymptomatic people who screen positive are requested to cooperate with the “Guidelines for Self-Health Management”, rest at home when they have symptoms, and avoid unnecessary going out. Pay attention to your own health status and seek timely medical treatment according to the above recommendations to obtain proper medical care. During the self-health management period, please do not engage in group activities. Please wear a mask when you go out to protect yourself and others and move towards a new life after the epidemic.

https://www.cdc.gov.tw/File/Get/dx9A36fqXcedlE5dL3pyYg

Original article in Mandarin

自3月20日起，COVID-19輕症免通報免隔離，快篩陽性輕症民眾如出現重症警示症狀請立即就醫，確診高風險民眾符合條件仍可開立口服抗病毒藥物

中央流行疫情指揮中心今(16)日表示，國內疫情持續穩定且處於低點，快篩陽性之輕症或無症狀民眾免通報免隔離措施將自3月20日(個案採檢日)起實施。民眾自行快篩陽性後，如出現重症警示症狀，或是屬於65歲以上長者、孕產婦或具慢性病史等具重症風險因子對象，請儘速就醫，以利醫師評估開立公費口服抗病毒藥物，降低感染後引發併發症或導致死亡之風險。

指揮中心說明，雖然多數COVID-19感染者均為輕症或無症狀個案，但病程仍有機會發展為中重症，民眾快篩陽性後，如出現下列警示症狀，包括喘或呼吸困難、持續胸痛或胸悶、意識不清、皮膚/嘴唇或指甲床發青、無法進食/喝水或服藥、過去24小時無尿或尿量顯著減少收縮壓<90mmHg或無發燒之情形下心跳>100次/分鐘，請立即撥打119、或請同住親友接送或自行步行、開車前往就醫。指揮中心特別提醒，65歲以上、孕婦、產婦(產後六週內)、具慢性病(氣喘、癌症、糖尿病、慢性腎病、心血管疾病、慢性肺炎、結核病、慢性肝病、失能、精神疾病、失智症、吸菸、BMI≧30等)或具影響免疫功能疾病之民眾，為感染COVID-19後可能導致併發症之高風險對象，於快篩陽性請儘速就醫，以利及早診治並開立口服抗病毒藥物。

指揮中心指出，「公費COVID-19治療用口服抗病毒藥物」之領用亦自3月20日起同步調整，如為前述檢驗陽性之併發症高風險民眾，儘速就醫後，經醫師診察評估為發病5日內且符合「新型冠狀病毒SARS-CoV-2感染臨床處置指引」之重症風險因子之藥物適用條件者，可由診療醫師開立COVID-19口服抗病毒藥物處方，至全國約2,700餘家口服抗病毒藥物合約機構領用藥物治療。醫事機構於開立或調劑COVID-19口服抗病毒藥物可自主上傳IC卡藥物作業，以掌握藥品使用流向。

指揮中心進一步表示，由於兒童染疫後重症機會低於成年人，且兒童較不擅於表達自身感受，如家中兒童快篩陽性後，發燒超過48小時或高燒超過39度合併發冷/冒冷汗、退燒後持續或活動力不佳、退燒後持續呼吸急促/喘/胸悶胸痛、持續性嘔吐/頭痛或腹痛、超過12小時未進食或解尿，請家長儘速帶往就醫；若出現抽搐、肌躍型抽搐、步態不穩、意識不佳或持續昏睡、呼吸困難或有胸凹現象、唇色發白或發紫、血氧飽和度低於94%、肢體冰冷合併皮膚斑駁、冒冷汗、體溫大於41度等症狀時，請立即送醫治療。

指揮中心呼籲，3月20日起輕症免隔離新制上路後，請篩檢陽性之輕症或無症狀民眾配合「自主健康管理指引」，有症狀時在家中休息，避免不必要外出，並請注意自身健康狀況，依照前述建議適時就醫，以獲得妥適醫療照護。自主健康管理期間請勿從事群聚型的活動，外出時請全程佩戴口罩，保護自身及他人安全，邁向疫後新生活。

The third wave of Omicron outbreaks continued to decline, with an average of 8,804 new local cases of COVID-19 per day last week; another 65 confirmed cases of Omicron subtype variants

Release date: 2023-03-16

Summary

The Central Epidemic Command Center announced today (16) that there were an average of 8,959 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 per day in Taiwan last week (3/10-3/16), including 8,804 local cases and 155 imported cases; A weekly average of 41 new deaths were confirmed every day. All showed a downward trend compared with the previous week. Another 65 confirmed cases of Omicron subtype variant strains were newly detected, including 39 local cases and 26 imported cases.

According to the command center, the average daily increase in local cases in each county and city last week was: New Taipei City (1,703 cases), Taichung City (1,072 cases), Kaohsiung City (1,046 cases), Taoyuan City (953 cases), Taipei City (794 cases) cases), Tainan City (749 cases), Changhua County (359 cases), Hsinchu County (266 cases), Pingtung County (241 cases), Miaoli County (227 cases), Hsinchu City (227 cases), Yilan County (194 cases) case), Yunlin County (181 cases), Keelung City (164 cases), Nantou County (148 cases), Chiayi County (140 cases), Hualien County (123 cases), Chiayi City (98 cases), Taitung County ( 63 cases), Kinmen County (35 cases), Penghu County (20 cases), Lianjiang County (1 case). In addition, among the death cases last week, 95% had a history of chronic diseases, 66% had not received three doses of vaccines, and 92% were over 60 years old. Since 2020, a total of 10,206,482 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed and 18,656 deaths in China.

The command center pointed out that among the Omicron subtype variants detected last week, the 39 local cases were 30 cases of BA.2.75, 4 cases of BQ.1, 3 cases of XBB (including 2 cases of XBB.1.5), and 2 cases of BA.5 ; The 26 imported cases were 13 cases of XBB (including 7 cases of XBB.1.5), 8 cases of BA.2.75, 3 cases of BA.5, 1 case of BQ.1, and 1 case of BA.2. At present, the local mainstream virus strain is still BA.2.75, and the rest are BQ.1, XBB and BA.5. The WHO stated that BQ.1, BQ.1.1, BF.7, BA.2.75.2, CH.1.1, XBB and XBF and other mutant strains have better transmission and adaptability, and they must continue to be closely monitored. Existing evidence shows that they can cause serious diseases The sex has not increased significantly, and the BA.5 next-generation vaccine is protective against mutant strains. We will continue to closely monitor the evolution and prevalence of international virus strains.

The command center stated that the number of new local cases of COVID-19 in Taiwan continued to decline, and the number of moderately severe cases and deaths slowed down. It called on the elderly and other severe and high-risk groups to receive next-generation vaccines, complete basic doses and early medication, and continue to monitor the loosening of epidemic prevention measures Afterwards, the influence on the epidemic situation and the changes of mutant strains.

The command center once again appealed that the epidemic prevention is gradually becoming more stable and open, and the next-generation vaccine booster is still effective against emerging mutant strains such as BQ.1, BF.7, and XBB. The public is invited to participate in the “vaccine plus one” activity to improve the prevention and protection. Return to normal life with peace of mind. It is also reminded to continue to implement good hygienic habits such as hand hygiene and cough etiquette, and to cooperate with various epidemic prevention regulations. It is also recommended that people with fever or respiratory symptoms, elderly or immunocompromised people go out, gather in crowds and cannot maintain an appropriate distance or have poor ventilation. Wear a mask to protect your health when you are in close contact with the elderly or immunocompromised.

Original article in Mandarin

第三波Omicron疫情持續下降，上週平均每日新增8,804例COVID-19本土個案；另新增65例Omicron亞型變異株確定病例

中央流行疫情指揮中心今(16)日公布國內上週(3/10-3/16)平均每日新增8,959例COVID-19確定病例，其中為8,804例本土個案及155例境外移入；另上週平均每日新增研判41例死亡。較前一週均呈下降趨勢。另新增檢出65例Omicron亞型變異株確定病例，分別為39例本土個案及26例境外移入。

指揮中心表示，各縣市上週本土病例平均每日新增為：新北市(1,703例)，臺中市(1,072例)，高雄市(1,046例)，桃園市(953例)，臺北市(794例)，臺南市(749例)，彰化縣(359例)，新竹縣(266例)，屏東縣(241例)，苗栗縣(227例)，新竹市(227例)，宜蘭縣(194例)，雲林縣(181例)，基隆市(164例)，南投縣(148例)，嘉義縣(140例)，花蓮縣(123例)，嘉義市(98例)，臺東縣(63例)，金門縣(35例)，澎湖縣(20例)，連江縣(1例)。另上週死亡個案中，95%具慢性病史、66%未打滿3劑疫苗、92%為60歲以上。自2020年起國內COVID-19累計10,206,482例確診、18,656例死亡。

指揮中心指出，上週檢出之Omicron亞型變異株中，39例本土個案為30例BA.2.75、4例BQ.1、3例XBB(含2例XBB.1.5)、2例BA.5；26例境外移入為13例XBB(含7例XBB.1.5)、8例BA.2.75、3例BA.5、1例BQ.1、1例BA.2。目前本土主流病毒株仍為BA.2.75，其餘為BQ.1、XBB及BA.5。WHO表示BQ.1、BQ.1.1、BF.7、BA.2.75.2、CH.1.1、XBB及XBF等變異株具較佳傳播力及適應力，須持續密切關注，現有證據顯示致疾病嚴重性未明顯增加，且BA.5次世代疫苗對變異株具保護力，將持續密切監測國際間之病毒株演變與流行。

指揮中心說明，全國COVID-19本土新增病例數持續下降，中重症數及死亡數緩降，呼籲長者等重症高風險族群接種次世代疫苗和完成基礎劑與及早用藥，並持續監測防疫措施鬆綁後對疫情影響及變異株變化。

指揮中心再次呼籲，防疫逐漸穩健開放，接種次世代疫苗追加劑對BQ.1、BF.7、XBB等新興變異株仍具效力，請民眾一起參與「疫苗加一」活動，提升預防保護力，安心恢復正常生活。另亦提醒持續落實手部衛生及咳嗽禮節等衛生好習慣，配合各項防疫規範，並建議有發燒或呼吸道症狀、年長者或免疫低下者外出時、於人潮聚集且無法保持適當距離或通風不良之場所、與年長者或免疫低下者密切接觸時，要戴口罩維護自身健康。