Taiwan Sees First BA.5 Cluster Infection 首現BA.5群聚 學者:8月中單日恐3萬確診

Taiwan has seen its first domestic cluster infection caused by the Omicron subvariant BA.5. Public health scholars say Taiwan will find it difficult to resist the invasion of the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants, just like many other countries in the world. They predict the number of new daily cases will reach 30,000 starting in mid-August.

The Central Epidemic Command Center announced two new domestic cases of the Omicron subvariant BA.5 on July 25. One was classified as being part of a cluster, and 12 contacts tested positive. Genome sequencing is underway. Scholars say countries around the world have found it hard to resist the onslaught of the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants, and Taiwan will be no exception. They predict the number of new daily cases will return to 30,000 or so as quickly as mid-August.

Chen Hsiu-hsi, Professor, College of Public Health, NTU: “The proportion has to reach 50 percent before BA.4 and BA.5 have a bigger impact. The time will probably be between Aug. 15 and the end of August.”

The domestic epidemic situation appeared to be improving, and the public and tourism industry both expected border restrictions to be loosened further. Some experts say Taiwan's third dose coverage rate has already surpassed 70 percent, while the fourth dose coverage rate has reached 6 percent. Even if new variants emerge, the majority of the cases will be asymptomatic or light. Experts say the quarantine requirement for entry can be relaxed from the current 3+4 to 0+7 to bring Taiwan in line with the rest of the world.

Huang Li-min, Honorary Chair, Infectious Diseases Society: “There is a very small difference in the efficacy of 3+4 and 0+7. Neither is very effective, so you might as well use 0+7 instead of 3+4.”

Su Tseng-chang, Premier: “We'll consider the epidemic situation and progressively relax all types of measures to bring normalcy back into people's lives.”

The CECC said it won't consider relaxing border restrictions until the child vaccination coverage rate reaches a certain level. However, it hasn't yet decided what the target should be. It will first conduct a period of observation. It also said Taiwan has sufficient vaccines and vaccination is proceeding smoothly.

國內25日又新增2例Omicron亞型變異株BA.5新冠本土病例，其中1例為首例社區群聚感染，接觸者12人為陽性，但基因定序結果尚未出爐。對此有公衛學者認為，世界各國都難逃BA.4、BA.5的侵襲，台灣也不例外，預估最快8月中旬到下旬會受到影響，單日確診人數恐怕再度攀升到3萬例左右。

台大公衛學院教授陳秀熙指出：「（占比）到達50%，對於BA.4、BA.5才會有比較大的影響，這個時間大概是在8月15日到8月底中間。」

近來本土疫情持續下降，民眾與旅遊業者都期待邊境進一步開放，有專家認為，台灣疫苗涵蓋率第3劑已超過7成，第4劑開打也有6%，即使有新變異株威脅，也大多為輕症或無症狀，建議邊境檢疫天數可從現行3+4改為0+7，跟上國際腳步。

台灣感染症醫學會名譽理事長黃立民認為：「3+4跟0+7的防護效果是相差沒有多少的，那與其3+4還不如0+7算了，反正兩個都不會有效的。」

行政院長蘇貞昌則表示：「我們會視疫情的狀況，逐步開放各種措施，讓民眾進入更為活絡的正常生活。」

疫情指揮中心強調，要等幼兒疫苗涵蓋率達一定程度才會考慮邊境再開放，但目前沒有設定施打目標，會先觀察一段時間，且目前疫苗絕對足夠，施打流程也很順暢。