COVID-19 Surge in Taiwan: Cases Jump 78%, Raising Concerns

Taiwan Faces Rising COVID-19 Infections, Prompting Health Authority Action

Taipei, Taiwan – Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reveals a significant increase in COVID-19 cases across Taiwan. Nearly 6,000 individuals sought medical treatment last week, marking a 78 percent surge from the previous week and the fourth consecutive weekly rise.

A total of 5,853 outpatient and emergency visits due to COVID-19 were reported throughout Taiwan from April 27 to May 3, the highest weekly count this year, according to CDC Deputy Director-General and spokesperson Lo Yi-chun (羅一鈞).

Lo Yi-chun emphasized the "rapid upward trend" in infections. While the current case count is approximately 30 percent of the figures from the same period in 2024, Lo predicted that the number will continue to climb, with the peak of the ongoing seventh wave of Omicron infections expected in May or June.

The CDC estimates the peak of the current wave will likely be about one-third to half the intensity of the previous wave, which ended around six months ago with a peak of roughly 130,000 cases in a single week.

From April 29 to May 5, four deaths and 33 severe cases caused by COVID-19 were reported. Lee Chia-lin (李佳琳), deputy director of the CDC's Epidemic Intelligence Center, stated that a total of 203 severe cases related to COVID-19, 37 of which resulted in deaths, have been recorded in Taiwan this year.

The majority of severe cases involved individuals aged 65 or older or those with chronic illnesses. Over 91 percent of these individuals had not received JN.1 vaccinations, according to Lee.

CDC physician Lin Yung-ching (林詠青) highlighted a severe case involving a 4-year-old girl from central Taiwan, who developed COVID-19 complicated by pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome. The girl, who had not been vaccinated against COVID-19, is currently receiving antiviral treatment in an intensive care unit.

As of Sunday, 2.088 million doses of the JN.1 COVID-19 vaccine had been administered in Taiwan, representing a nationwide coverage rate of 8.7 percent, according to the CDC. The JN.1 vaccine has been available since October last year.

The CDC is urging individuals who received their first dose of the JN.1 vaccine six months ago to get a second jab as soon as possible to enhance protection and reduce the risk of severe illness or death following infection.