TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan partially lifted its mask mandates on Thursday (Dec. 1), allowing the public to go mask-free while outdoors or in open areas. However, many seemed hesitant to take them off after more than 2 years of living with the pandemic.
Although current restrictions allow the public to take off masks when singing karaoke or giving toasts at banquets, among others, residents still need to put on face masks when they head indoors or take public transport.
Speaking at the weekly press conference, the head of the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC), Wang Pi-sheng, remarked that from his personal observations, only about 5% of the public had taken off their face masks while outside.
Meanwhile, in response to media inquiries, CECC specialist advisory panel convener Chang Shan-Chwen suggested that a complete lift on mask mandates could be possible after the Chinese New Year.
Although outdoor mask mandates have been lifted, there are still questions on whether we will need to don face masks at large-scale outdoor gatherings such as the New Year's Eve celebrations.
To this, Wang pointed out that while it is recommended, the CECC won't enforce the public to wear masks at those events. As the number of daily confirmed COVID-19 cases continues to drop, Taiwan is bracing itself for more relaxed epidemic-prevention measures in the days to come.
