TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (疾管署, CDC) reported a significant rise in local COVID-19 cases on Tuesday (June 25), noting an uptick from 624 cases last week to 817. Meanwhile, the death toll remains stable, with seniors over 65 accounting for 90% of the 40 new fatalities. The CDC anticipates that the case count will continue to climb, reaching a plateau by mid-July.
Recent variant monitoring has identified the JN.1 strain as predominant in 62% of local cases and 47% of imported cases. The KP.2 strain is also increasing, now found in 18% of local and 25% of imported cases. With the escalation of cases, the CDC highlighted the crucial role of vaccinations. Over the past week, there was a 61.54% jump in XBB vaccine administrations, totaling 21,000 doses and bringing the national vaccination rate to 11.47%.
The CDC emphasized the importance of vaccination, particularly the XBB vaccine, as the most effective measure against severe outcomes from COVID-19. With 2.838 million doses of the Moderna XBB vaccine and 30,000 doses of the Novavax XBB vaccine remaining, they are urging unvaccinated individuals to get inoculated promptly. Additionally, the CDC recommends that high-risk individuals, such as seniors and those with compromised immune systems, receive their second vaccine dose 84 days after the first for optimal protection.
