Virus Outbreak: Health minister preaches precautions, prevention

RESEARCH NEWS: NHRI is working with three firms on the development of four vaccines, while Academia Sinica is working with two others on two more vaccines

Taipei Times
Date: Jun 04, 2020
By: Lee I-chia / Staff reporter

Research facilities and biotechnology firms are striving to develop effective vaccines or drugs against the novel coronavirus, but people must still practice the “new disease prevention lifestyle” to protect themselves, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) reminded the public yesterday as it reported no new cases of COVID-19.

“As there have been no domestic cases reported for many consecutive days [52], local communities in Taiwan are relatively safe, but we still need to rely on the development of vaccines and drugs to effectively control the overall situation,” Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中), who heads the center, said at the center’s daily news conference in Taipei.

Eight COVID-19 patients remain hospitalized, but 428 people have recovered and been released from isolation, he said.

While disease prevention regulations are to be eased on Sunday, that does not mean doing away with all protective measures before an effective vaccine or medication is developed, Chen said.    [FULL  STORY]