Taiwan to downgrade classification of COVID-19, disband CECC (update)
ROC Central News Agency
04/25/2023 11:04 PM
Taipei, April 25 (CNA) Taiwan will reclassify COVID-19 from a Category 5 communicable disease to the lower Category 4 on May 1 and disband the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) after it was set up nearly 1,200 days ago, Deputy Health Minister Victor Wang (王必勝) said Tuesday.
The reclassification of the disease and the closure of the CECC was decided during a meeting presided over by Premier Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁), Wang said at a press briefing in Taipei that afternoon.
The decision was made based on the fact that COVID-19 has become a flu-like disease, and the number of patients who develop a serious infection or die has continued to decline, said Wang, who has served as head of the center since July 18, 2022.
Other than novel influenza A virus infections, which are listed as a Category 5 disease, influenza infections that require intensive care are listed as Category 4, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
In addition, several key COVID-19 measures, such as providing treatment to patients with serious complications, drug distribution, monitoring the health of care facility residents and the ongoing campaign to offer everyone an annual COVID-19 vaccine jab, have been integrated into Taiwan's medical system, he explained.
Taiwan's gradual lifting of border controls and a large number of disease prevention measures introduced for COVID-19 are in line with measures taken by other countries, he said.
Japan plans to lift all COVID-19 border controls on May 8, the United States is set to end its COVID-19 public health emergency on May 11, while the World Health Organization is expected to review the pandemic status in May, according to Wang.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare will take over the tasks of the CECC and prepare for any changes in the disease's development, such as the emergence of a new strain of the coronavirus, Wang said.
The ministry will set up an expert panel in preparation for a possible surge of new COVID-19 cases, CDC Director General Chuang Jen-hsaing (莊人祥) said at the press briefing.
COVID-19 measures from May 1
The current COVID-19 drug prescription rules and clinics for patients who suffer from "long COVID" will still be available, while the cost of treatments received by patients with serious complications will still be paid for by the government after May 1, according to Chuang.
However, the rationing scheme to offer rapid test kits at lower prices will end on April 30, CDC Deputy Director General Lo Yi-chun (羅一鈞) said at the press briefing.
If Taiwan sees a higher percentage of COVID-19 patients develop serious complications or new variants of the coronavirus that pose higher health risks, a plan is in place to redistribute medical resource to tackle the situation, including setting up dedicated wards and quarantine facilities, Chuang said.
With daily production of 12 million face masks in Taiwan and an inventory of 276 million masks, Chuang said people in Taiwan would each be provided with five to 10 face masks, he added.
COVID-19 vaccine shots will continue to be offered for free after May 1, but medical service providers could charge people a registration fee for the shot, Lo said.
However, the current requirement to wear a face mask at medical facilities, including pharmacies, and on ambulances will be remain in place through May 30 unless a review of the requirement deems it is no longer necessary, according to Lo.
Back in 2019
Taiwan first learned about several cases of "atypical pneumonia" in the Chinese city of Wuhan at the end of 2019, and the CDC contacted its Chinese counterpart on Dec. 31, 2019, while seeking more information of this little known disease through the World Health Organization.
The disease, named by Taiwan as "severe pneumonia with novel pathogens," was designated as a Category 5 communicable disease on Jan. 15, 2022. Other diseases in Category 5 include yellow fever and the Ebola virus.
The CECC was established by the CDC on Jan. 20, 2020, following the spread of what was later named COVID-19 by the WHO in February 2020 in several countries.
Taiwan reported its first COVID-19 case on Jan. 21, 2020, a Taiwanese national returning from Wuhan, and has recorded more than 10.23 million cases, and over 19,000 deaths since the start of the pandemic in early 2020.
Taiwan revised the definition of COVID-19 cases to be reported and limited them to those who develop serious complications on March 20, and the CECC has been holding weekly briefings on the COVID-19 situation in Taiwan, the last of which is set to take place on Thursday, the center said.
Future COVID updates
The CDC will provide updates on COVID-19 along with other diseases in Taiwan during its weekly press briefing on Tuesdays, Chuang said.
The Special Act for Prevention, Relief and Revitalization Measures for Severe Pneumonia with Novel Pathogens introduced in February 2020 is set to expire on June 30.
(By Chen Chieh-ling, Shen Pei-yao and Kay Liu) Ednitem/AW
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