Taiwan reports 88% rise in COVID-19 outpatients, emergency visits

Taipei, May 20 (CNA) Taiwan saw an 88.2 percent weekly increase in COVID-19 outpatient and emergency visits last week, according to the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on Tuesday.

Kuo Hung-wei (郭宏偉), head of the CDC Epidemic Intelligence Center, said there were 19,097 outpatient and emergency visits from May 11-17.

That figure is up from the previous week but lower than the 23,778 reported in the 20th week of 2024, Kuo added.

Ninety-three new severe cases and four deaths were reported from May 12-19, he said.

CDC Deputy Director-General and spokesperson Lo Yi-chun (羅一鈞) suggested the spike may be related to a shift in dominant variants and predicted a peak in mid-to-late June, with weekly visits reaching 55,000 to 65,000.

Lo said that while the XEC variant was dominant six weeks ago, the NB.1.8.1 variant from the XDV family has higher transmissibility and has spread rapidly over the past five weeks, and immunity gained from natural infection during last year's peak has mostly declined.

He estimated the current COVID-19 wave will peak in mid-to-late June, with weekly visits reaching 55,000-65,000 -- about half the level of the 130,000 weekly visits recorded at the peak of last summer's wave -- and continue through the end of July.

The XDV variant is closely related to the JN.1 variant, and existing JN.1 vaccines and treatments remain effective, Lo said.

He added that drug stockpiles are currently sufficient, including over five months of Molnupiravir, with open contracts in place to allow for further procurement.

Lo said the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also coordinated with Taiwanese manufacturers to increase production, with weekly output expected to reach 70,000 to 80,000 medical and at-home rapid tests -- for a total of around 150,000-160,000.

Tests will continue to be stocked at major convenience store chains, pharmacy chains and locally-owned pharmacies, he said.