Taiwan eases COVID-19 response measures for close contacts

TAIPEI -- The management of close contacts of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Taiwan will be further eased from Tuesday, the island's disease monitoring agency said on Monday. Those who have already received three vaccine doses will no longer be required to undertake home isolation.

Close contacts will still be required to undertake seven days of "self-prevention," during which they will be permitted to go out as normal if they have a negative rapid antigen test result obtained within 48 hours, according to the agency.

Taiwan on April 26 relaxed the COVID-19 response protocols for close contacts, shortening the duration of home isolation from 10 days to three days, followed by four days of self-prevention.

The region on Sunday reported 61,697 local COVID-19 cases and 29 deaths from the disease, the agency said.

By Sunday, more than 80,000 local students in Taiwan had been infected, including more than 27,000 elementary school pupils, and over 2,100 schools had totally or partially suspended classes, according to the island's education authorities.

To date, Taiwan has reported 830,257 confirmed COVID-19 cases. Of these, 817,940 were local infections.