Taiwan announced no new COVID-19 cases for the fourth day in a row on Wednesday. Health minister Chen Shih-chung was at the legislature to answer lawmakers'' questions, where for the first time he hinted at a timescale for an exit to epidemic control measures - perhaps within one month, he said. With many businesses hit hard by the measures, the pressure is on for Chen to announce an exit strategy. But he says there''ll be no letup for the Labor Day holiday on May 1. Easing the rules will depend on how scrupulous the public is about social distancing, masks and hand washing. It’s been zero new cases in Taiwan for four days in a row, and 17 days since the last community transmission in Taiwan. It’s an optimistic day. But the four top officials of the Central Epidemic Command Center are feeling – well, exhausted.
Chuang Jen-hsiang
Central Epidemic Command Center
Nothing’s changed at home. I just go home and I’m tired, and I watch a bit of TV and then I fall asleep.
Chou Chih-hao
Central Epidemic Command Center
I go to bed late and get up early. But I don’t have much time to spend with my family.
Chang Shan-chwen
Central Epidemic Command Center specialist
I was used to staying late at the College of Medicine to do admin, and usually going home very late. Of course it’s even later now, because there’s more voluntary work to do.
They’re used to long days. But now, with so few new cases appearing, many are starting to ask whether it’s time to start easing some of the epidemic control measures.
At the legislature, the health minister gave the first hint of when that might happen, saying he hopes to be able to loosen restrictions within a month. But later, he said it may to time to loosen up a little, but not to get complacent.
Chen Shih-chung
Central Epidemic Command Center
It’s not going to be a big liberation on Labor Day. No. What I’ll say is, we can lighten up a little, but this is no time to get complacent. What do we want to do now? We want to see the responsibility for taking precautions shift gradually back to the individual. We don’t want to set external indicators – we know that statistics like “how many days since the last new case” are actually not very meaningful right now. But if we manage to keep the infection rate down, and there is no widespread transmission, then life will return to normal.
Chen says the ultimate power to get restrictions lifted lies with each individual. His deputy, Chen Tsung-yen, echoed that line and called on business owners to be patient.
Chen Tsung-yen
Central Epidemic Command Center
At this stage we still have to ask business owners to hang in with us a while longer. It’s a struggle we’re all in together and we just need to hang in there.
While the rate of infection in Taiwan has significantly fallen, many businesses are suffering seriously from the restrictions in place. Officials hope those can be lifted soon if the public shows it can take on more responsibility.
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