Gradually Loosen Disease Prevention Regulations: Chen 陳時中:做好重症醫療 相關措施漸放寬

In responsed to the epidemic, President Tsai Ing-wen posted on Facebook, saying Taiwan will now follow a new disease control model of "zero serious cases and effective control of mild cases." Health and Welfare Minister Chen Shih-chung said that good intensive care will be provided and relevant measures will be gradually relaxed. 

The epidemic is spreading domestically as Taiwan's daily numbers of newly confirmed cases have reached triple digits for several consecutive days. President Tsai Ing-wen stated through Facebook on the 6th that Taiwan's epidemic prevention strategy should aim for "disaster reduction," and pursue "zero severe cases and effective control of mild cases". This will point towards a new Taiwan model of moving forward and opening up. However, some legislators questioned whether the government is ready? In the face of the escalating epidemic, the public is still full of anxiety.

Chiang Wan-an, Legislator (KMT): “Is the government ready? Are there related policies so people can follow them and know what might happen so they can prepare?”

Chen Shih-chung, Minister of Health and Welfare: “We will no longer do the so-called precise epidemic investigation now. We need to simplify epidemic control, supplemented by technology for epidemic prevention. We won't expand contact tracing and at home quarantines. We will use quick screening or PCR tests instead.”

Chen Shih-chung emphasized that in the future, epidemic prevention should gradually bring back life to normal, but the epidemic has recently spread to school campuses. According to the Ministry of Education statistics, as of the 6th, a total of 128 schools across 14 Taiwanese counties or cities have suspended all or some classes. Chen frankly said mass school closures are too strict and discussions will be held with the Ministry of Education next week.

Chen Shih-chung, Minister of Health and Welfare: “Are the class suspension rules too strict? It's just too strict. That is to say, if there are more than 2 students confirmed with the virus, the whole school will be closed. These related regulations will be available for discussion.”

Chen emphasized Taiwan's plan is to reduce the disaster. The country will provide good critical care and gradually relax its measures. In the future, quarantine and isolation will mainly be at home. He stressed that the relaxation of quarantine has nothing to do with upcoming elections. The Central Epidemic Command Center is expected to finalize guidelines for at home care of mild illnesses next week. The CECC is expected to seek local government support to conduct a trial first. At the same time, the Center will prepare to purchase related drugs on a large scale. 

國內新冠疫情大爆發，本土案例連日破百例，總統蔡英文6日木透過臉書表示，台灣的防疫策略應以「減災」為目標，追求「重症清零、有效控管輕症」，朝向新台灣模式前進開放。不過有立委質疑，政府到底準備好了沒？面對疫情升溫，民眾還是充滿焦慮。

國民黨立委蔣萬安表示：「政府準備好了沒有？相關的配套？那民眾才能有所依循，才知道可能發生什麼狀況，才能做好準備。」

衛福部長陳時中回應：「現在我們不再做所謂的精準疫調，我們要簡化疫調，輔以科技防疫，然後不再擴大匡列，要再居家隔離，然後要用快篩來取代，或者說跟PCR交互的來使用。」

陳時中強調，未來防疫要讓生活漸漸恢復正常。不過近來疫情燒進校園，根據教育部統計，到6日為止，全台共有14縣市、128所學校採取全校或部分班級停課。對此陳時中坦言，大規模停課太嚴格，下週將和教育部進行討論。

陳時中說：「停課的規定是不是有太嚴格了，就等於太嚴格啦，就是說有2個以上就全校要來停課等等的這些相關的規定，可以來做討論。」

陳時中強調，台灣以減災為規劃，做好重症醫療，會逐漸放寬措施，未來居家檢疫、居家隔離，以在家為主，並強調放寬檢疫和選舉無關。至於外界關心的輕症在宅照護指引，預計下週指揮中心會定案，會徵求地方政府意願，先行試辦，同時也準備大規模採購相關藥物。