The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) is holding discussions on gradually lifting Taiwan’s mask mandate and expects to begin easing regulations later this month, CECC chief Victor Wang (王必勝) said Wednesday.

Speaking to the press before an event at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Wang said the CECC is planning to lift the current mask mandate in several stages, as the impact of COVID-19 in Taiwan begins to wane.

In the first stage, he said, it will consider following guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO), which recommends wearing masks in crowded, indoor settings but not mandating their use outdoors.

While the CECC is still working out the exact details of the plan, such as what constitutes an “open space,” rules on wearing a mask outdoors will likely be eased later this month, he said.

According to Wang, the CECC has also begun preliminary planning on a “second stage” of the policy, though he said it was difficult to predict when it might be implemented.

In this latter stage, health authorities will specifically list places where masks need to be worn, such as in hospitals or on public transportation, with no mask mandate as the default in all other settings, he said.

Meanwhile, Wang said a plan to begin offering free COVID-19 rapid tests to people from low-income households and children aged 7-12 is also expected to begin this month.

Under the government’s current rapid test distribution scheme, Taiwan citizens and residents can purchase packs of five rapid tests for NT$500 (US$15.59), while seniors 65 and over and children under the age of 7 are eligible to obtain five free tests per month.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel