Taiwan sees COVID surge last longer amid falling infection figures

TAIPEI, Taiwan (Taiwan News) — After the expected 100,000 local COVID-19 infections failed to reach the 100,000 mark on Saturday (May 21), officials predicted that the current pandemic surge would last longer than expected.

For weeks, experts predicted that the daily infection rate would exceed 100,000, first around May 11 and then between May 20 and May 30. The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said the trend was both a good and bad sign as the number fell two consecutive days after reaching a record 90,331 on Thursday (May 19).

While lower numbers provide some relief to medical staff, they also indicate that the current surge may last longer than anticipated, according to CECC chief Chen Shih-chung ().

According to CNA, if the peak of local infections remains between 80,000 and 100,000, the situation is "under appropriate control," but it will take more time before the numbers drop to a level low enough to declare the surge over.

According to Chen, an increase to 120,000 or 130,000 local transmissions per day would cause problems for the healthcare system while also hastening the end of the surge.