Taipei: Taiwan could enter a new COVID-19 epidemic phase as early as this week, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said Tuesday, following a significant increase in cases. Last week, 2,811 people sought treatment for the disease, marking a 34.4 percent rise from the previous week.
According to Focus Taiwan, CDC spokesperson Tseng Shu-hui reported a consistent rise in COVID-19 activity in Taiwan over the past five weeks. Neighboring regions such as China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, and Singapore have also noted increasing case numbers, Tseng added.
The CDC's analysis suggests that COVID-19-related medical visits are expected to continue rising. The agency predicted that once weekly visits exceed 5,000, Taiwan will officially enter a new epidemic phase. Infections are projected to peak within one month to 45 days from that point, Tseng stated.
Tseng also mentioned that the upcoming peak is unlikely to exceed last year's figures. The weekly COVID-19-related medical visits may reach a maximum of around 50,000, though the number could be lower due to reduced transmission opportunities during the summer vacation when schools are closed.
The CDC's projections are based on previous experiences with COVID-19, noting that infections have gradually declined as more individuals received vaccines or acquired immunity through prior infections. Since October 2025, Taiwan has recorded 136 domestic cases of severe COVID-19 complications, which include 18 deaths, as per CDC data.
Among these severe cases, a significant proportion involved people aged 65 or older, those with chronic underlying illnesses, and individuals who had not received this season's COVID-19 vaccine. The CDC urged high-risk individuals to get vaccinated or receive a second dose if six months have passed since their last shot.
Currently, about 456,000 vaccine doses are available, and the eligibility for publicly funded COVID-19 vaccination has been extended to everyone aged six months and older through July 31, the agency confirmed.