CORONAVIRUS/COVID-19 surges in Taiwan, expected to peak in June or July

Taipei, May 29 (CNA) The Ministry of Health and Welfare said Thursday that COVID-19 cases are on the rise, with the current wave expected to peak in late June or early July.

According to Centers for Disease Control (CDC) statistics, 41,402 people sought treatment for COVID-19 between May 18 and 24, a 113 percent increase from the previous week.

The CDC estimates that the number of people seeking treatment for COVID-19 each week could peak at between 150,000 and 200,000 this summer.

Answering reporters' questions before a Legislature meeting Thursday, Health Minister Chiu Tai-yuan (邱泰源) said Taiwan has sufficient antiviral medication in stock, including 450,000 courses of Paxlovid, the main treatment.

Chiu said rapid test kits will first be distributed to the four major convenience store chains -- 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Hi-Life and OK Mart -- as well as chain pharmacies. He urged the public to buy tests from these retailers.

Regarding distribution, Chiu said local manufacturers can supply about 600,000 kits, with a total of 1.2 million kits expected to be distributed by next week.

Also on Thursday, CDC Deputy Director-General Lo Yi-chun (羅一鈞) said at a Cabinet meeting that the current major variant, NB.1.8.1, spreading in the country is highly contagious and has strong immune evasion, meaning it can more easily bypass the body's existing defenses.

However, he said existing antiviral drugs and vaccines remain effective against the strain.

He said a total of 2.157 million vaccine doses have been administered, with 3.128 million doses still in stock. He urged the public to get vaccinated and wear masks.

At a press conference after the Cabinet meeting, Cabinet spokesperson Michelle Lee (李慧芝) said Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) instructed the Ministry of Health and Welfare to closely monitor medical service capacity to ensure the public gets proper care. He also asked the ministry to assess demand for rapid tests and manage their distribution based on how the epidemic develops.

Lee added that the premier also called on the ministry to boost public messaging on personal hygiene ahead of the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival long weekend.