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 Taiwan has reported more than 1,000 new infections during the past
week or so, leading to new curbs in the capital, Taipei, and
shocking a population that had become accustomed to life carrying on
almost normally.
Announcing another 267 local infections, up from 240 on Tuesday,
Health Minister Chen Shih-chung said that although the across
Taiwan.
There was no need to order a full lockdown for now, and people
should not worry too much, he added.
"At present medical capacity is sufficient, so please don't worry,"
Chen added.
The new curbs for Taiwan restrict personal gatherings and close
entertainment venues, steps already in effect in Taipei since the
weekend.
In a boost for Taiwan's fight against the pandemic, Chen said more
than 410,000 vaccine doses from COVAX would arrive Wednesday
afternoon, which he described as "very valuable" and would be
prioritised for front-line health care workers.
It has only received a little more than 300,000 doses to date, all
from AstraZeneca. More than two-thirds of those have been
distributed.
Taiwan has said it expected to get more than 1 million AstraZeneca
shots via COVAX in total.
Taiwan has ordered 20 million doses, mostly from AstraZeneca but
also from Moderna Inc, though global shortages have curtailed
supplies.
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In a statement on Wednesday, Taiwan's Centres for Disease Control
said after a virtual workshop on vaccines on Tuesday with the top
U.S., British, Japanese and Australian diplomats in Taipei that
vaccines must be fairly distributed.
"Fair access to effective vaccines is the ultimate means to curb the
global COVID-19 pandemic. We look forward to more effective and
sufficient vaccine development and marketing, and call on all
countries to work together to end the COVID-19 pandemic," it said.
Taiwan is mobilising its diplomats to try to speed up access to more
vaccines, and is in talks with the United States for a share of the
COVID-19 shots President Joe Biden plans to send abroad.
Brent Christensen, the de facto U.S. ambassador to Taiwan, said at
the same event that "talking about COVID-19 vaccines can be a
sensitive subject", according to a copy of his remarks published by
his office.
"We recognise that each country and region is at different stages in
their COVID-19 vaccination programmes," the remarks said.
"Unfortunately, many still face difficulties gaining access to
vaccines."
Taiwan has reported 2,533 cases since the pandemic began, including
14 deaths.
(Reporting by Ben Blanchard and Yimou Lee. Editing by Gerry Doyle)
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