There are no immediate plans to impose a full lockdown in Taiwan, although some cities and counties have been carrying out computerized drills to prepare for such an eventuality, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said.
Under the current national Level 3 alert, the rate of COVID-19 infections has slowed, said Health Minister Chen Shih-chung, who heads the CECC.
This indicates that the Level 3 disease prevention protocols, including mandatory mask-wearing and limits on indoor and outdoor gatherings, are working, he said at a regular press briefing.
While the local governments' computerized preparatory lockdown exercises are commendable, it is more important that people strictly adhere to the Level 3 regulations at this point, Chen said.
He cautioned, however, that people should not let down their guard, as it is too early to determine whether the current COVID-19 outbreak is easing.
On the question of whether Taiwan should speed up its vaccine rollout in the absence of a full lockdown, Chen said it is impractical to count on vaccination to get rid of COVID-19 for good.
Disease control measures "can be considered successful if they prevent massive transmissions," he said, stressing the importance of people following personal protection guidelines. -Central News Agency
