CORONAVIRUS/Taiwan to start rationing sale of COVID-19 rapid test kits

Taipei, April 27 (CNA) The sale of COVID-19 rapid test kits in Taiwan will be rationed with effect from Thursday, and they will be available at controlled prices at contracted pharmacies and public health centers throughout the country, Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中) said Wednesday.

Under the government's rationing plan, buyers will be required to present their National Health Insurance (NHI) card or Alien Resident Certificates (ARC) to buy one test kit each on designated days, said Chen, at a press briefing of the Central Epidemic Command Center he heads.

The last digit of the identification card number will determine which days the holder will be able to purchase a COVID-19 rapid test kit, he said.

The kits will be sold on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to people with an odd number as the last digit on their cards, while those with an even number will be able to buy the tests on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, Chen said.

On Sundays, the kits will be available to anyone who holds an NHI card or Taiwan government-issued ARC, he said.

Update

May 7: Quarantine cut to 7 days for mild, asymptomatic COVID-19 cases: CECC

May 7: Taiwan rolls back quarantine rules for contacts of COVID-19 patients

May 5: Rapid test positives to be counted as confirmed COVID cases from May 12

May 3: Taiwan to shorten quarantine for arriving travelers from 10 to 7 days

May 2: Symptomless people to face restrictions in getting PCR test

April 28:COVID-19 contacts to receive fewer free tests during '3+4' quarantine 

The 10 million packets that will be distributed each contain five rapid tests, which will be sold under the rationing plan at a controlled price of NT$500 (US$17) per kit, he said.

Some 4,909 NHI-contracted pharmacies and 58 public health centers throughout the country will sell the rationed test kits, Chen said, adding that information about the specific pharmacies can be found on the websites of the National Health Insurance Administration, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Federation of Taiwan Pharmacists Associations (all in Chinese only).  

Update

May 2: Symptomless people to face restrictions in getting PCR test

April 29: Pharmacists group critical of low rapid test deliveries for weekend

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