Level 3 COVID-19 Alert in Place for Taipei City Effective May 15Post date：2021-05-18
Updates：2021-05-18
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Due to a recent spike in domestic pandemic cases, Mayor Ko Wen-je announced that Level 3 COVID-19 Alert has been imposed for Taipei City. A press conference was held at city hall to update the public on the latest developments.
Statistics from the Taiwan Centers of Disease Control (CDC) for May 15 showed 180 new domestic cases and 5 new import cases. Among these, there were 89 cases in Taipei City; 75 cases in New Taipei City; 6 cases in Changhua County, 4 cases in Yilan County; 4 cases in Taoyuan County; 1 case in Taichung City, and 1 case in Keelung City.
Due to the report of multiple cases and clusters with unknown sources, Taiwan CDC announced that Taipei and New Taipei will be placed under Level 3 alert through May 28.
Mayor Ko called upon residents to stay home as much as possible. In the case where you need to leave the house, you must wear face mask at all times to minimize the chance of contact via respiratory droplets. He also reminded citizens avoid dining outside and order food as takeout.
Major measures in place under Level 3 alert include the follows:
Showcase/match-watching venues include exhibition halls, movie theaters, assembly halls, stadiums, activity centers, performance and exhibition venues (concert halls, performance halls, museums, art museums, galleries, historical data archives, and memorial halls), indoor skating rink, indoor swimming pools, amusement parks, franchised children’s playground, and similar places.
Learning/education facilities include community college, senior citizens’ learning centers, training classes, study centers, social education institutions (social education halls, science education centers, and libraries), senior citizens’ community meal and activity centers, and similar facilities. These venues will suspend operations starting 8 AM on May 15.
Deputy Mayor Huang Shan-shan also went over 9 major pandemic prevention guidelines after Taipei escalates its COVID-19 Alert to Level 3. Individuals who do not wear face mask when outside their home may be fined in accordance to the Communicable Disease Control Act. She also reminded the public to keep track of their own health. Anyone showing symptoms of illness – especially those residing in Wanghua District – should seek medical attention immediately. The city government will step up efforts on public transportation disinfection. Residents are also reminded to minimize traveling outside their home. Places of businesses and public agencies will be required to adopt face mask and social distancing policies.
Taipei City Hall Building will also implement real name registration. However, only the first, second, and third floor will be accessible for outside visitors starting May 17. Work-at-home and alternate office policies are in place for city employees. Regarding safety precautions for dining, measures such as real name registration, space dividers, distance between seats, and social distancing seek to provide customers, and the city government encourages the public to take advantage of takeout. For weddings and funerals, the city government emphasizes real name registration, social distancing, and strengthened disinfection measures. It is also looking at the possibility of calling off public funerals and limit such events to family members only.
Taipei City Hospital Zhongxing Branch Superintendent Tsai Ching-yao reported on the COVID tests at the Zhongxing, Heping, and Bopiliao testing stations. Out of the 600 people tested, roughly 400 results have been acquired. He called upon the public to be more patient and give the medical staff more time and encouragement. The mayor reminded the public that only people experiencing symptoms should come to the testing stations to ensure effective use of medical resources. Deputy Mayor Huang asked individuals to collect their queue number first and visit the testing stations at the appointed time to avoid long waits and overwhelming heat.
Health Commissioner Huang Shier-cheig reported on the status of Taipei’s medical supply stockpile and resource allocation. He pointed out that Heping Hospital has quickly recovered its medical “energy” and will quickly transition into an emergency response hospital. Taipei City Hospital has also boosted its dedicated COVID bed capacity to 120 beds. After factoring in all dedicated COVID beds at hospitals across Taipei, the total capacity will reach 374 beds, as well as 429 beds in negative pressure rooms and quarantine wards.
Statistics from the Taiwan Centers of Disease Control (CDC) for May 15 showed 180 new domestic cases and 5 new import cases. Among these, there were 89 cases in Taipei City; 75 cases in New Taipei City; 6 cases in Changhua County, 4 cases in Yilan County; 4 cases in Taoyuan County; 1 case in Taichung City, and 1 case in Keelung City.
Due to the report of multiple cases and clusters with unknown sources, Taiwan CDC announced that Taipei and New Taipei will be placed under Level 3 alert through May 28.
Mayor Ko called upon residents to stay home as much as possible. In the case where you need to leave the house, you must wear face mask at all times to minimize the chance of contact via respiratory droplets. He also reminded citizens avoid dining outside and order food as takeout.
Major measures in place under Level 3 alert include the follows:
- All family or social gatherings indoors with 5 or more people are banned, as well as those with 10 or more outdoors (family members who live together do count). Starting 8 AM on May 15, with the exception of services vital to sustaining life and order, medical care, and public services, all remaining public venues will be closed.
- Places of business which cannot implement real name registration and maintain social distancing must shut down. Starting 8 AM, Taipei City has ordered a wide range of entertainment businesses to suspend operations, including karaoke hall, dance hall, nigh clubs, clubs, pubs, MTV, KTV, beauty salons, message parlors, gyms, bowling alleys, pool halls, videogame arcade, mahjong halls, and more.
- All religious activities are suspended, including pilgrimage and processions. Temples, shrines, churches, and other religious activity centers are to implement real name registration and maintain social distancing.
- All afterhours open campus policies for middle schools and elementary schools are suspended in compliance with national policy.
- All handover and induction events for clubs and societies will be suspended in compliance with national policy.
- Taipei City will also close down two additional types of venues: showcase/match-viewing venues and learning/education facilities.
Showcase/match-watching venues include exhibition halls, movie theaters, assembly halls, stadiums, activity centers, performance and exhibition venues (concert halls, performance halls, museums, art museums, galleries, historical data archives, and memorial halls), indoor skating rink, indoor swimming pools, amusement parks, franchised children’s playground, and similar places.
Learning/education facilities include community college, senior citizens’ learning centers, training classes, study centers, social education institutions (social education halls, science education centers, and libraries), senior citizens’ community meal and activity centers, and similar facilities. These venues will suspend operations starting 8 AM on May 15.
Deputy Mayor Huang Shan-shan also went over 9 major pandemic prevention guidelines after Taipei escalates its COVID-19 Alert to Level 3. Individuals who do not wear face mask when outside their home may be fined in accordance to the Communicable Disease Control Act. She also reminded the public to keep track of their own health. Anyone showing symptoms of illness – especially those residing in Wanghua District – should seek medical attention immediately. The city government will step up efforts on public transportation disinfection. Residents are also reminded to minimize traveling outside their home. Places of businesses and public agencies will be required to adopt face mask and social distancing policies.
Taipei City Hall Building will also implement real name registration. However, only the first, second, and third floor will be accessible for outside visitors starting May 17. Work-at-home and alternate office policies are in place for city employees. Regarding safety precautions for dining, measures such as real name registration, space dividers, distance between seats, and social distancing seek to provide customers, and the city government encourages the public to take advantage of takeout. For weddings and funerals, the city government emphasizes real name registration, social distancing, and strengthened disinfection measures. It is also looking at the possibility of calling off public funerals and limit such events to family members only.
Taipei City Hospital Zhongxing Branch Superintendent Tsai Ching-yao reported on the COVID tests at the Zhongxing, Heping, and Bopiliao testing stations. Out of the 600 people tested, roughly 400 results have been acquired. He called upon the public to be more patient and give the medical staff more time and encouragement. The mayor reminded the public that only people experiencing symptoms should come to the testing stations to ensure effective use of medical resources. Deputy Mayor Huang asked individuals to collect their queue number first and visit the testing stations at the appointed time to avoid long waits and overwhelming heat.
Health Commissioner Huang Shier-cheig reported on the status of Taipei’s medical supply stockpile and resource allocation. He pointed out that Heping Hospital has quickly recovered its medical “energy” and will quickly transition into an emergency response hospital. Taipei City Hospital has also boosted its dedicated COVID bed capacity to 120 beds. After factoring in all dedicated COVID beds at hospitals across Taipei, the total capacity will reach 374 beds, as well as 429 beds in negative pressure rooms and quarantine wards.
