Taiwan may allow those who test positive for the Omicron variant of COVID-19 to undergo quarantine at home if they have mild symptoms, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).
Health and Welfare Minister and CECC head Chen Shih-chung (???) said at a daily press briefing in Taipei Wednesday that instead of being sent to enhanced quarantine hotels or facilities as is the case now, Omicron-infected individuals could be permitted to isolate at home if cases continue to trend mild and capacity is sufficient.
However, Chen said it would still be some time before infected individuals would be allowed to forgo quarantine altogether and only undertake self-health management, which allows cases to go outside but only if they comply with a set of transmission-prevention measures.
Taiwan on Tuesday recorded the country's first death from the Omicron variant of COVID-19, involving a Taiwanese woman in her 80s who was a contact of a confirmed infection and who suffered from chronic illnesses, including kidney problems that required dialysis.
However, Chen said the risk of death from Omicron was still relatively low and that being fully vaccinated offered the best protection.
According to CECC data valid as of Feb. 11, a total of 439 individuals infected with the Omicron variant of COVID-19 arrived in Taiwan beginning Dec. 11.
Of the 439 individuals, 239 were asymptomatic, 197 had mild symptoms, and only three were classified as moderate or above.
Meanwhile, of the 672 new domestic COVID-19 cases in January, 284 were asymptomatic, 387 displayed mild symptoms, and only one was classified as moderate or above, according to data published by the CECC on Feb. 11.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel