A taxicab drives down an empty street outside of Taipei City Hall, Taiwan, May 15, 2021. /CFP
Taiwan recorded 240 new local COVID-19 cases and two deaths on Tuesday, marking the latest related deaths in the island since April 24, bringing the death toll to 14 since the outbreak began in early 2020, as it continues to battle a fresh surge in infections.
One of the two people who died from COVID-19 was over 80 years old and was among a cluster of infections in Far Eastern Memorial Hospital in New Taipei City, the hospital said, adding that two of its nurses tested positive for COVID-19 during the second round of screenings.
The hospital, which reported 11 cases and one death, is scheduled to conduct its third round of screenings on Wednesday.
The island has reported more than 100 locally transmitted COVID-19 cases in the past four consecutive days, with 180 on Saturday, 206 on Sunday and 333 on Monday.
People line up at a rapid coronavirus testing center after the COVID-19 alert raised to level 3 in Taipei, Taiwan, May 18, 2021. /CFP
New Taipei City authorities are reported to disclose on Monday several locations where coronavirus cases were discovered and urge anyone experiencing symptoms to get tested.
The island will close its borders from Wednesday to June 18 to non-Taiwan residents and suspend transit for travelers after the recent surge in local COVID-19 cases. The ban will only allow exceptions in cases of emergency or for humanitarian reasons.
Local authorities raised the COVID-19 alert level for Taipei and New Taipei City to Level 3 on Saturday, the first time the alert has been imposed in Taiwan.
All schools in Taipei and New Taipei City from elementary to high school will be closed for 11 days starting Tuesday to help stem the spread of the disease.
The spike in cases has also put the island's vaccination program under scrutiny. Home to a population of 23.5 million, Taiwan is reported to have only about one percent of its residents vaccinated.
The number of daily vaccinations dropped 53.7 percent between Wednesday and Saturday from 16,180 to 7,485 jabs, suggesting that the doses are running out, according to the local disease monitoring agency. But the recent jump in local transmissions has increased the demand for vaccinations.
The local disease monitoring agency in Taiwan announced on Saturday that reservations for self-paid coronavirus vaccinations would be put on hold until further notice in a bid to guarantee vaccines for frontline medical workers to combat the recent surge in local COVID-19 transmissions, but that those with existing appointments can get vaccinations as planned.
However, all the vaccination appointments were then postponed after an announcement by authorities on Monday in order to ensure that nurses and other medical workers can get priority access to a vaccine.
Expressing the mainland's concern over Taiwan's recent severe COVID-19 situation, Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said on Monday that the mainland is ready to do its utmost to help compatriots in Taiwan overcome the pandemic as soon as possible.
Zhu added that "people from all walks of life on the mainland always care about the life, health and safety of our compatriots in the Taiwan region."
(With input from agencies)