Quarantine for Confirmed Cases Becomes '7+n' 今起防疫規定再放寬 居家隔離走入歷史

Starting Nov. 7, the home isolation requirement for contacts of confirmed cases will be discontinued, and "0+7 days of self-initiated prevention" will be implemented instead. The isolation/self-health management period for non-severe cases receiving home care will be reduced to "7+n" days. 

Getting temperature taken and disinfecting hands with rubbing alcohol before entering public areas are now a thing of the past. Starting on Nov. 7, the Central Epidemic Command Center's (CECC) quarantine policy for confirmed COVID cases becomes "7+n," while close contacts of confirmed cases need only to self-monitor for seven days. People no longer need to present vaccination proof of three shots before joining tour groups, participating in religious events, entering gyms and visiting the eight types of adult entertainment venues.

Citizen: “I would still disinfect my hands if I see rubbing alcohol dispensers at shops.”

Chen Yu-min, Secretary, Mgmt. Committee, Monga Qingshan Temple: “We have a medical team (for the pilgrimage event on Nov. 13). We encourage and ask all parade participants to self-monitor their health. If people feel sick or have fevers they should not participate in the event. We have a list of all participants' names.”

Recently there have been doubts about CECC's report claiming that the locally-produced Medigen COVID-19 vaccine provides protection as high as 90 percent across people of all ages in Taiwan against moderate to severe symptoms and fatality after three shots. This result is only second to Pfizer-BNT's protection efficacy. People questioned whether the government is shielding Medigen Vaccine Biologics Corp. Ministry of Health and Welfare Minister Hsueh Jui-yuan made an explanation during the latest legislative interpellation.

Hsueh Jui-yuan, Minister, MOHW: “Let's have them (Taiwan Centers for Disease Control) sort out all information properly so we can all understand better the protection efficacy of each brand of vaccine. We are not only focusing on Medigen. ”

During a recent KMT caucus press conference, legislators criticized the government for trying to make a profit out of Medigen vaccine production, and said the ruling party officials should be held liable.

Tseng Ming-chung, KMT Legislative Caucus Whip: “It is incredible that the CDC under the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) wrote the vaccine protection efficacy on Medigen. Why is MOHW trying to make a profit off of Medigen and who made that decision?”

The KMT caucus said the local vaccine company has violated the criteria of receiving emergency use authorization (EUA) from the government by having the CDC instead of national and international professionals examine and write up its protection efficacy report. KMT legislators are now asking the MOHW to revoke Medigen's EUA and to recover the NT$4.3 billion budget spent on the purchase of the vaccine.  

量體溫確認溫度正常，接著再用酒精消毒雙手，過去要進入公共場所民眾，都要在入口處先量測體溫，宮廟要舉辦大型活動也要有3劑證明，但從7日起指揮中心放寬4大防疫措施，包括確診者隔離放寬為7+n天，同住接觸者改0+7自主防疫，居家隔離走入歷史，也取消旅行團、健身房、遶境、八大行業等疫苗3劑令，到公共場所也不強制量體溫。

民眾說道：「有看到（店家提供）我還是會用酒精消毒。」

艋舺青山宮管委會秘書陳玉敏表示：「（11月13日起遶境活動）我們有一個醫護組，我們的陣頭我們也宣導他自我管理，你覺得身體不舒服，有發燒你就不要來，我們也有造冊。」

而指揮中心上週公布國人接種新冠疫苗的保護效益分析，以不分年齡層來看，接種3劑高端疫苗對預防中重症、死亡率的保護力都高達9成，僅次於BNT，引發外界質疑數據是在護航高端，對此衛福部長薛瑞元上午在立法院也做出澄清。

衛福部長薛瑞元表示：「（疾管署）把這一些資料整理好可以來了解一下，各個不同的疫苗，到底它們的保護效力各是怎麼樣，這個不是針對高端做的。」

但國民黨團再開記者會痛批政府圖利、護航高端，將追究相關官員的行政、法律和政治責任。

立法院國民黨團總召曾銘宗指出：「最誇張是由衛福部的疾管署代寫，提出這個效益報告，衛福部為什麼圖利高端，是誰決策做的。」

國民黨團強調，去年7月核准高端EUA，當時的核准條件是要求高端檢附國內外執行疫苗的保護效益報告，而不是疾管署，高端已經違反當時的附加條件，請衛福部要依法撤銷高端EUA，並追討採購高端疫苗的40.3億經費。