The stipulation requiring travelers in domestic tour groups to have received three vaccine doses was canceled starting June 21. Now, all that is needed is a negative result on a rapid test taken within 48 hours.
Now, even people who haven't received three vaccine doses can join domestic tour groups and travel around Taiwan. The Ministry of Transportation and Communications has announced that people who haven't received their booster can join tour groups as long as they provide a negative result on a rapid test taken within 48 hours. If a member of a tour group tests positive during the tour, the remaining travelers won't be affected and can continue with their journey. Experts point out tour group members sit together on buses, share meals, and may even share a room. This means they are at as much risk for spreading COVID-19 as family members that live together.
Lee Ping-ing, Member, Specialist Advisory Panel, CECC: “The amount of time that members of a tour group spend together is quite long. They may spend as much time together as family members. If a member of a tour group tests positive, that means that other members are at high risk of infection. Regulations on quarantine can be considered.”
The domestic epidemic situation appears to be improving, but many children are still developing severe cases. A pediatric emergency physician posted on Facebook about his experience treating an infected child in mid-May. The child arrived with a fever, difficulties breathing, and croup. His sternum and ribs also sank when he inhaled. Luckily, he was intubated and treated in time and his condition stabilized. He has already recovered and has been discharged.
Wu Chang-teng, Pediatric Emergency Physician, Linkou CGM Hospital: “His voice was hoarse, and he had a barking cough. There were wheezing sounds when he breathed. If his condition had worsened, then he would have developed the so-called sunken chest and even rib depressions.”
Central Epidemic Command Center statistics show the total number of children with severe COVID-19 cases currently stands at 62, including 21 with encephalitis, 12 with pneumonia, three with septicemia, seven with croup, 12 with MIS-C, and two with comorbidity. 18 have died, including five at home. Doctors say vaccination can prevent severe cases in children, and all adults and children eligible for vaccines should get vaccinated.
交通部宣布，未打滿3劑疫苗者，只要提供48小時內的快篩陰性證明就可以出遊，期間若有團員有症狀快篩陽性，其餘團員還是可以繼續走行程。對此有專家憂心，國旅團成員一起坐遊覽車、一起吃合菜，可能還住同一房間，其實跟同住家人一樣有傳播風險。
疫情指揮中心專家諮詢小組委員李秉穎認為：「同團的旅客他接觸的時間，其實有蠻久的。他接觸的時間，說不定跟一般的家人一樣，是不是同團旅行的旅客，其中有一個確診，其他的旅客得到感染的機會，其實是蠻大的。這個可以考慮一下，是不是也要有一些居家隔離的規定。」
雖然新冠本土疫情趨緩，但還是傳出不少兒童重症個案。林口長庚吳昌騰醫師在臉書分享，5月中旬一名確診兒童被送來急診，當時小朋友出現發燒、呼吸急促、哮吼等症狀，甚至呼吸時、胸骨肋骨產生凹陷。幸好及時插管治療，現在病況穩定，已康復出院。
林口長庚兒童急診醫師吳昌騰說明：「聲音沙啞，咳嗽像狗吠的聲音。第三個是說，呼吸的時候會出現哮鳴，如果當變得更嚴重的時候，就會出現所謂的胸凹，甚至說肋骨上的一些凹陷。」
根據指揮中心統計，目前兒童重症累計有62例，包括腦炎21例、肺炎12例、敗血症3例、哮吼7例、MIS-C12例，共病2例，家中死亡5例，死亡累計有18例。醫師強調，預防兒童重症方法就是打疫苗，不管是大人或小孩，只要符合資格者都儘可能接種疫苗，以減少病毒感染及傳播機率。
