In recent times, although the mortality rate of new crown in Taiwan has remained high, they have already lie down and have gradually relaxed their epidemic prevention policies and are also discussing the relaxation of the "mask order". Recently, there is a certain time for to be released from mask loosening policy, which is the concern of the people on the island.
(Wang Bisheng predicted in the program that the first phase of mask loosening measures will be implemented in early December)
According to Global Network , citing the island media on the 23rd, Wang Bisheng, commander of the Taiwan Epidemic Command Center, said in an exclusive interview that the first phase of mask loosening measures will be implemented in early December. By then, except for crowded outdoors, masks can be not worn, but masks must also be worn indoors. As for when the second phase will be released, the time cannot be determined.
Wang Bisheng said that compared with some countries and regions, people in Taiwan have higher compliance with masks, but "(mask specifications) will definitely become looser and looser, and you can't always wear them."
According to the situation on the island, there are three main factors for their loosening of masks. If the conditions can be met, you can not wear a mask outside in a non-crowded outdoor. The first evaluation factor of
is the diagnosis. Wang Bisheng said that the new coronavirus mutant strain BA.5 has passed its peak period since its epidemic in August and has even been reduced to the standard at the end of April. Moreover, compared with the tens of thousands of new confirmed cases added every day in October, it has gradually dropped to more than 10,000 new cases per day, and the epidemic has slowed down.
The second evaluation element is medical capacity, which can also be understood as the ability of medical resources to withstand medical resources. Masks can help many people prevent infection. Once masks are loosened, the epidemic will rebound to a greater or lesser extent. It is important whether medical resources can support the rebound. If medical resources can ensure that people seek medical treatment normally after the rebound, the standards can be met.
The third evaluation element is that other respiratory infectious diseases in winter, such as influenza, will be implemented if conditions permit.
(The first step is to wear masks when you are not crowded outdoors)
Currently, Taiwan is considering using three stages to lift the "mask order". The first stage is "not wearing outdoors, wear indoors". For crowded outdoor occasions such as New Year's Eve, the balance between epidemic prevention and normal life should be implemented. If the situation remains unchanged in early December, the outdoors will be opened first without wearing masks. This is the first step.
As for the second step, it is to stipulate that masks must be worn in special indoor areas, such as mass transportation, hospitals, welfare places, etc. Wang Bisheng said that the hospital has vulnerable ethnic groups, so you must wear masks and think carefully. The implementation of the second phase depends on the development of the epidemic. There are many infectious diseases in winter and may be a little later.
The last step 3 is based on the principle of "only recommending wearing masks", that is, people are not forced to wear masks.
It is worth noting that Taiwan's epidemic epidemic command center 's loosening of the "mask order" even made some people on the island think that not wearing masks will be a sign of the end of the new crown epidemic. Is this really the case? The answer is naturally no.
There are many factors that have been released in Taiwan. Referring to the United States, since the midterm elections are approaching, it is urgent to create an illusion of "improvement of the epidemic". In this context, loosening masks has nothing to do with epidemic prevention and control, but with politics. Although the number of confirmed patients with new coronavirus pneumonia on the island is on a downward trend, if the new coronavirus epidemic is completely over, you need to wait until the mortality rate is less than 10,000, while the new coronavirus mortality rate in Taiwan is about 17,000, which is still higher than the mortality rate of influenza. Therefore, the measures to loosen masks do not represent the end of the new coronavirus epidemic.
(Taiwanese people wearing masks)
Pediatrician Li Bingying of Taiwan Hospital also said that loosening the rules for wearing masks outdoors does not mean that the new coronavirus has reached the end, but it is just another stage. The condition for the complete end of the new coronavirus is that the severe mortality rate caused by the new coronavirus is lower than that of the flu, but the current epidemic situation in the community has not yet met this standard, reminding the people on the island to still be careful to prevent the epidemic.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been raging, and everyone has indeed become tired. This is a long-term struggle, and each of us is a participant.In the past three years, people have also formed the habit of wearing masks. Perhaps in the near future, the new crown epidemic will no longer exist on the day when people can completely get rid of masks.
