Masks are no longer to be required in medical institutions from Sunday next week, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced yesterday, officially ending all COVID-19 mask restrictions.
Masks would be recommended rather than mandatory in all medical institutions and centers for the elderly, CDC Deputy Director-General Tseng Shu-hui (曾淑慧) said following an expert meeting to assess the COVID-19 situation.
The decision was made after considering similar policies set by the WHO, as well as the US, UK and other nations, Tseng said.
Photo: CNA
Under the guidelines, those exhibiting respiratory symptoms should not enter medical institutions unless necessary, but if they do, they should wear a mask until at least five days after symptoms ease.
Those who have had close contact with someone exhibiting respiratory symptoms and those at high risk of developing complications are also advised to wear a mask in medical institutions, the guidelines say.
Those younger than two or who have trouble wearing a mask should cover their mouth with tissue paper when coughing or sneezing, and dispose of it after use.
Meanwhile, a statement about expiration dates on the 10 million free COVID-19 tests that the CDC plans to distribute to more than 4,500 National Health Insurance-contracted pharmacies nationwide has sparked concern among members of the public.
The 10 million kits have expiration dates ranging from the end of May to December, and 1.5 million of them would be effective until the end of December, but the majority of the kits would expire by the end of June, the CDC said on Tuesday.
Members of the public are concerned whether the efficacy of the test kits would be affected.
Food and Drug Administration Deputy Director-General Wang Te-yuan (王德原) yesterday said that “close to expiry” means the rapid test kits have not yet expired and can be used normally.
“If the test kits have expired, it is advised to dispose of them as general waste and refrain from using them,” he said.
Additional reporting by CNA
One of two tropical depressions that formed off Taiwan yesterday morning could turn into a moderate typhoon by the weekend, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. Tropical Depression No. 21 formed at 8am about 1,850km off the southeast coast, CWA forecaster Lee Meng-hsuan (李孟軒) said. The weather system is expected to move northwest as it builds momentum, possibly intensifying this weekend into a typhoon, which would be called Mitag, Lee said. The radius of the storm is expected to reach almost 200km, she said. It is forecast to approach the southeast of Taiwan on Monday next week and pass through the Bashi Channel
NO CHANGE: The TRA makes clear that the US does not consider the status of Taiwan to have been determined by WWII-era documents, a former AIT deputy director said The American Institute in Taiwan’s (AIT) comments that World War-II era documents do not determine Taiwan’s political status accurately conveyed the US’ stance, the US Department of State said. An AIT spokesperson on Saturday said that a Chinese official mischaracterized World War II-era documents as stating that Taiwan was ceded to the China. The remarks from the US’ de facto embassy in Taiwan drew criticism from the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation, whose director said the comments put Taiwan in danger. The Chinese-language United Daily News yesterday reported that a US State Department spokesperson confirmed the AIT’s position. They added that the US would continue to
The number of Chinese spouses applying for dependent residency as well as long-term residency in Taiwan has decreased, the Mainland Affairs Council said yesterday, adding that the reduction of Chinese spouses staying or living in Taiwan is only one facet reflecting the general decrease in the number of people willing to get married in Taiwan. The number of Chinese spouses applying for dependent residency last year was 7,123, down by 2,931, or 29.15 percent, from the previous year. The same census showed that the number of Chinese spouses applying for long-term residency and receiving approval last year stood at 2,973, down 1,520,
EASING ANXIETY: The new guide includes a section encouraging people to discuss the threat of war with their children and teach them how to recognize disinformation The Ministry of National Defense’s All-Out Defense Mobilization Agency yesterday released its updated civil defense handbook, which defines the types of potential military aggression by an “enemy state” and self-protection tips in such scenarios. The agency has released three editions of the handbook since 2022, covering information from the preparation of go-bags to survival tips during natural disasters and war. Compared with the previous edition, released in 2023, the latest version has a clearer focus on wartime scenarios. It includes a section outlining six types of potential military threats Taiwan could face, including destruction of critical infrastructure and most undersea cables, resulting in
RSS