The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) yesterday released disease prevention guidelines ahead of the three-day International Workers’ Day weekend that starts today, as it reported no new COVID-19 cases for the fifth straight day.
The guidelines include several recommendations that have been repeated by authorities since the initial outbreak of the novel coronavirus, such as maintaining good personal hygiene.
People should avoid touching their eyes, nose and mouth, and maintain social distancing of at least 1.5m when indoors and 1m outdoors, they say, adding that when social distancing cannot be maintained, a mask should be worn.
Photo: CNA
If going outdoors, it is best to visit open spaces where there are no crowds, the guidelines say.
A mask should be worn when in areas that are crowded, enclosed or lacking good ventilation, as well as in situations where there would be an unspecified number of people or close contact with other people, they say.
In the guidelines, the center also recommended that people avoid dining in restaurants with close seating and social gatherings in the form of meals.
The center reported no new COVID-19 cases for the fifth consecutive day.
The last domestic case of the novel coronavirus was recorded on April 12.
Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中) told a daily briefing at the center in Taipei that people can now adopt a “happier” and “more relaxed” attitude.
The risk of community transmission has been “lowered to a minimum,” said Chen, who heads the center.
More people are recovering from the disease, with 322 of the nation’s 429 confirmed cases released from isolation, he said.
With the personal income tax filing season starting today, Chen encouraged people to file online.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Finance has pushed back this year’s deadline to file personal taxes from June 1 to June 30, giving people two months — instead of the usual one — to file their taxes.
Asked under what conditions the center would consider discontinuing its daily briefings, Chen said that while it has not deliberated the matter, it might contemplate decreasing the frequency from daily to every two days.
At the briefing, the center also displayed mugs with the words “Taiwan Can Help” gifted by President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文).
Tsai on Facebook thanked the nation’s frontline medical workers for their dedication since the outbreak began.
Flower growers in Tainan also sent anthuriums to the center to thank its workers and reporters, said Deputy Minister of the Interior Chen Tsung-yen (陳宗彥), who is deputy head of the center.
Tuesday was the 100th day since the center opened.
Conflict with Taiwan could leave China with “massive economic disruption, catastrophic military losses, significant social unrest, and devastating sanctions,” a US think tank said in a report released on Monday. The German Marshall Fund released a report titled If China Attacks Taiwan: The Consequences for China of “Minor Conflict” and “Major War” Scenarios. The report details the “massive” economic, military, social and international costs to China in the event of a minor conflict or major war with Taiwan, estimating that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) could sustain losses of more than half of its active-duty ground forces, including 100,000 troops. Understanding Chinese
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday said it is closely monitoring developments in Venezuela, and would continue to cooperate with democratic allies and work together for regional and global security, stability, and prosperity. The remarks came after the US on Saturday launched a series of airstrikes in Venezuela and kidnapped Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who was later flown to New York along with his wife. The pair face US charges related to drug trafficking and alleged cooperation with gangs designated as terrorist organizations. Maduro has denied the allegations. The ministry said that it is closely monitoring the political and economic situation
UNRELENTING: China attempted cyberattacks on Taiwan’s critical infrastructure 2.63 million times per day last year, up from 1.23 million in 2023, the NSB said China’s cyberarmy has long engaged in cyberattacks against Taiwan’s critical infrastructure, employing diverse and evolving tactics, the National Security Bureau (NSB) said yesterday, adding that cyberattacks on critical energy infrastructure last year increased 10-fold compared with the previous year. The NSB yesterday released a report titled Analysis on China’s Cyber Threats to Taiwan’s Critical Infrastructure in 2025, outlining the number of cyberattacks, major tactics and hacker groups. Taiwan’s national intelligence community identified a large number of cybersecurity incidents last year, the bureau said in a statement. China’s cyberarmy last year launched an average of 2.63 million intrusion attempts per day targeting Taiwan’s critical
‘SLICING METHOD’: In the event of a blockade, the China Coast Guard would intercept Taiwanese ships while its navy would seek to deter foreign intervention China’s military drills around Taiwan this week signaled potential strategies to cut the nation off from energy supplies and foreign military assistance, a US think tank report said. The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) conducted what it called “Justice Mission 2025” exercises from Monday to Tuesday in five maritime zones and airspace around Taiwan, calling them a warning to “Taiwanese independence” forces. In a report released on Wednesday, the Institute for the Study of War said the exercises effectively simulated blocking shipping routes to major port cities, including Kaohsiung, Keelung and Hualien. Taiwan would be highly vulnerable under such a blockade, because it
RSS