Taiwan&nbsp;will fully reopen its borders by ending mandatory Covid quarantine for arrivals next month, the government said Thursday.

The island has largely kept its borders closed and implemented strict quarantine rules throughout the coronavirus pandemic, keeping infection numbers low at the expense of being internationally cut off.

The government started to move away from its zero-Covid strategy in April towards accepting endemicity once its population was well vaccinated.

From October 13, authorities will eliminate quarantine and ask arrivals to self-monitor for seven days, cabinet spokesman Lo Ping-cheng quoted Premier Su Tseng-chang as saying on Thursday.

Visitors currently have to undergo a mandatory three-day hotel quarantine, followed by four days of self-monitoring during which they are expected to avoid crowded places.

Also see |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/how-could-the-us-sanction-china-to-deter-a-taiwan-attack-516912">How could the US sanction China to deter a Taiwan attack?</a>

Visa-free travel for visitors from certain countries will resume from September 29 and the ban on tour groups will be lifted in October, Lo added.

The new measures will allow "the public to fully return to normal life,&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;to open its door to welcome back tourists and all industries to be more active and prosperous", he said.

But some tourism industry experts said&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;would still struggle to compete for visitors with other destinations in the region because of its self-monitoring rules.

"The whole world except China and&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;have opened up, and&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;has already been too slow and too late," said Robert Kao, an expert on tourism management and operations at Tainan University of Technology.

He described the seven days of self-monitoring with no quarantine as "meaningless", and added that "tourists would opt for countries like Japan or South Korea where there are no such restrictions".

Taiwan&nbsp;saw nearly six million domestic coronavirus infections this year, although over 99 percent of the infected had mild or no symptoms, with a fatality rate of 0.16 percent, according to official data.

The Mainland Affairs Council,&nbsp;Taiwan's China affairs ministry, also announced Thursday that Chinese, Hong Kong and Macau residents could apply for entry to visit relatives, attend funerals or handle inheritances from September 29.&nbsp;

Crew members and technicians of Chinese airlines and shipping companies are also eligible to enter.&nbsp;

Taiwan&nbsp;has imposed tighter immigration restrictions on residents from China and the two Chinese territories, reflecting lingering political tensions with Beijing since the two sides split in 1949 after a civil war.

Taiwan will fully reopen its borders by ending mandatory Covid quarantine for arrivals next month, the government said Thursday. The island has largely kept its borders closed and implemented strict quarantine rules throughout the coronavirus pandemic, keeping infection numbers low at the expense of being internationally cut off.

Taiwan will fully reopen its borders by ending mandatory Covid quarantine for arrivals next month, the government said Thursday. The island has largely kept its borders closed and implemented strict quarantine rules throughout the coronavirus pandemic, keeping infection numbers low at the expense of being internationally cut off. The government started to move away from its zero-Covid strategy in April towards accepting endemicity once its population was well vaccinated. From October 13, authorities will eliminate quarantine and ask arrivals to self-monitor for seven days, cabinet spokesman Lo Ping-cheng quoted Premier Su Tseng-chang as saying on Thursday. Visitors currently have to undergo a mandatory three-day hotel quarantine, followed by four days of self-monitoring during which they are expected to avoid crowded places. Also see | How could the US sanction China to deter a Taiwan attack? Visa-free travel for visitors from certain countries will resume from September 29 and the ban on tour groups will be lifted in October, Lo added. The new measures will allow "the public to fully return to normal life, Taiwan to open its door to welcome back tourists and all industries to be more active and prosperous", he said. But some tourism industry experts said Taiwan would still struggle to compete for visitors with other destinations in the region because of its self-monitoring rules. "The whole world except China and Taiwan have opened up, and Taiwan has already been too slow and too late," said Robert Kao, an expert on tourism management and operations at Tainan University of Technology. He described the seven days of self-monitoring with no quarantine as "meaningless", and added that "tourists would opt for countries like Japan or South Korea where there are no such restrictions". Taiwan saw nearly six million domestic coronavirus infections this year, although over 99 percent of the infected had mild or no symptoms, with a fatality rate of 0.16 percent, according to official data. The Mainland Affairs Council, Taiwan's China affairs ministry, also announced Thursday that Chinese, Hong Kong and Macau residents could apply for entry to visit relatives, attend funerals or handle inheritances from September 29. Crew members and technicians of Chinese airlines and shipping companies are also eligible to enter. Taiwan has imposed tighter immigration restrictions on residents from China and the two Chinese territories, reflecting lingering political tensions with Beijing since the two sides split in 1949 after a civil war.

Taiwan to scrap Covid quarantine for travellers from October, lift ban on tour groups

Taiwan reported the first death of an infant due to COVID-19 in the New Taipei region.

Doctors said the two-year-old boy died due to brain stem encephalitis which was triggered by the virus as the country continues to battle the pandemic.

Taiwan's health minister had warned earlier this month that coronavirus cases could hit 1,000 a day even as the country reported over 1,600 on Tuesday.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinas-economic-data-hints-at-cost-of-zero-covid-strategy-471860">Also Read:&nbsp;China's economic data hints at cost of zero Covid strategy</a>

Taiwan has reported most COVID-19 cases in New Taipei, Taipei, Taoyuan, Keelung located in the northern region. The country has recorded&nbsp;854 COVID-19&nbsp;in the past two years even as health minister Chen Shih-chung claimed the "scale of the pandemic is very large".

Several cities have started home quarantine amid surging COVID-19 cases as the country battles the second wave.

Watch: Shanghai prepares to ease lockdown amid surging COVID-19 cases

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/shanghai-prepares-to-ease-lockdown-though-it-continues-to-report-new-covid-cases-472220/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The COVID-19 cases began to rise in mid-March and&nbsp;recently hit 1,000 daily cases worrying health officials in the country.

Amid the rising number of cases, Taiwan's health minister had said the country will move away from its&nbsp; "zero-Covid"&nbsp;strategy as it prepares to combat the virus.

Taiwan had mostly closed its borders and kept the virus under check for the past two years while keeping its economic activity in shape although it had imposed social distancing measures last year as COVID-19 cases surged in the country.

(With inputs from Agencies)

Taiwan reported the first death of an infant due to COVID-19 in the New Taipei region. Doctors said the two-year-old boy died due to brain stem encephalitis which was triggered by the virus as the country continues to battle the pandemic.

Taiwan reported the first death of an infant due to COVID-19 in the New Taipei region. Doctors said the two-year-old boy died due to brain stem encephalitis which was triggered by the virus as the country continues to battle the pandemic. Taiwan's health minister had warned earlier this month that coronavirus cases could hit 1,000 a day even as the country reported over 1,600 on Tuesday. Also Read: China's economic data hints at cost of zero Covid strategy Taiwan has reported most COVID-19 cases in New Taipei, Taipei, Taoyuan, Keelung located in the northern region. The country has recorded 854 COVID-19 in the past two years even as health minister Chen Shih-chung claimed the "scale of the pandemic is very large". Several cities have started home quarantine amid surging COVID-19 cases as the country battles the second wave. Watch: Shanghai prepares to ease lockdown amid surging COVID-19 cases The COVID-19 cases began to rise in mid-March and recently hit 1,000 daily cases worrying health officials in the country. Amid the rising number of cases, Taiwan's health minister had said the country will move away from its "zero-Covid" strategy as it prepares to combat the virus. Taiwan had mostly closed its borders and kept the virus under check for the past two years while keeping its economic activity in shape although it had imposed social distancing measures last year as COVID-19 cases surged in the country. (With inputs from Agencies)

Taiwan records first infant death due to COVID-19 as two-year old boy dies

Taiwan detected the first case of the Omicron variant on Saturday after detecting it in three people who arrived in the country from abroad.

Taiwan has ramped up its vaccination drive in the last two months with 62 per cent of the population fully vaccinated in a country of 23.41 million. Reports say at least 78 per of the population has received at least one dose of the vaccine with thousands already administered the booster dose.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/two-covid-doses-not-very-effective-against-omicron-variant-uk-experts-claim-435973">Also Read:&nbsp;Two Covid doses not very effective against Omicron variant, UK experts claim</a>

Taiwan's Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) had announced citizens who had earlier taken both doses of the vaccine five months ago are now eligible for the booster dose in order to stop chances of community transmission.

Watch:&nbsp;Are Omicron cases mild compared to other coronavirus variants?

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/are-case-of-omicron-mild-compared-to-other-coronavirus-variants-436062/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

CECC added that vaccine immunity reduces over time amid the threat of new variants. The command centre said frontline health workers including those over 65 were at high risk and should take the booster dose.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/with-omicron-variant-on-mind-israel-extends-travel-restrictions-for-10-days-435820">Also Read:&nbsp;With Omicron variant on mind, Israel extends travel restrictions for 10 days</a>

The Omicron variant which was detected in South Africa last month has spread worldwide with the US recording new variant cases in 25 states.

According to a US report, most of the Omicron cases in the US have&nbsp;occurred among people who have already been vaccinated.&nbsp;

The US had identified the first Omicron case on December 1 after a person arrived from South Africa. However, Delta is still the dominant strain in the United States.

(With inputs from Agencies)

Taiwan detected the first case of the Omicron variant on Saturday after detecting it in three people who arrived in the country from abroad. Taiwan has ramped up its vaccination drive in the last two months with 62 per cent of the population fully vaccinated in a country of 23.

Taiwan detected the first case of the Omicron variant on Saturday after detecting it in three people who arrived in the country from abroad. Taiwan has ramped up its vaccination drive in the last two months with 62 per cent of the population fully vaccinated in a country of 23.41 million. Reports say at least 78 per of the population has received at least one dose of the vaccine with thousands already administered the booster dose. Also Read: Two Covid doses not very effective against Omicron variant, UK experts claim Taiwan's Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) had announced citizens who had earlier taken both doses of the vaccine five months ago are now eligible for the booster dose in order to stop chances of community transmission. Watch: Are Omicron cases mild compared to other coronavirus variants? CECC added that vaccine immunity reduces over time amid the threat of new variants. The command centre said frontline health workers including those over 65 were at high risk and should take the booster dose. Also Read: With Omicron variant on mind, Israel extends travel restrictions for 10 days The Omicron variant which was detected in South Africa last month has spread worldwide with the US recording new variant cases in 25 states. According to a US report, most of the Omicron cases in the US have occurred among people who have already been vaccinated. The US had identified the first Omicron case on December 1 after a person arrived from South Africa. However, Delta is still the dominant strain in the United States. (With inputs from Agencies)

Taiwan reports first Omicron case; new virus variant spreads in 25 US states

After the Biden administration sent 2.5 million vaccine jabs to Taiwan, the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/have-a-stronger-military-presence-in-asia-to-tackle-china-japan-urges-european-nations-392843"> Chinese</a> foreign ministry said the "US should not seek political manipulation in the name of vaccine assistance."

China's foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said that the US should stop interfering in "China's domestic affairs".

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-urges-china-to-cooperate-on-covid-origin-probe-392920/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Taiwan had earlier accused China of hampering its vaccine gathering drive as COVID-19 cases have surged in the country.

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen in a Twitter message thanked the US government, saying: "Thank you to the #US for this moving gesture of friendship. These vaccines will go a long way toward keeping #Taiwan safe &amp; healthy."&nbsp;

The US sent more vaccine doses to Taiwan than was originally promised earlier. The vaccination drive in Taiwan has been going slowly due to a shortage of doses with only six per cent of the population having received the jabs.

Amid Taiwan's battle with the virus, the US government decided to triple the vaccine doses to the country.

"Wheels up! Our donation of 2.5 million vaccine doses is on the way to Taiwan," &nbsp;State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a tweet.

China and the United States have repeatedly clashed over relation with Taiwan with tensions rising in the Taiwan Straits over the US aircraft carriers travelling through the troubled waters.

China considers Taiwan as a breakaway province, however, the US has enured arms sale to the country in order to keep Chinese influence at bay even though it does not have official diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

Last week, Chinese jets entered Taiwan's airspace leading the Taiwanese Air Force to scramble its jets as tensions continued between the two countries.

(With inputs from Agencies) 
&nbsp;

After the Biden administration sent 2.5 million vaccine jabs to Taiwan, the Chinese foreign ministry said the "US should not seek political manipulation in the name of vaccine assistance.

After the Biden administration sent 2.5 million vaccine jabs to Taiwan, the Chinese foreign ministry said the "US should not seek political manipulation in the name of vaccine assistance." China's foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said that the US should stop interfering in "China's domestic affairs". Watch: Taiwan had earlier accused China of hampering its vaccine gathering drive as COVID-19 cases have surged in the country. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen in a Twitter message thanked the US government, saying: "Thank you to the #US for this moving gesture of friendship. These vaccines will go a long way toward keeping #Taiwan safe & healthy." The US sent more vaccine doses to Taiwan than was originally promised earlier. The vaccination drive in Taiwan has been going slowly due to a shortage of doses with only six per cent of the population having received the jabs. Amid Taiwan's battle with the virus, the US government decided to triple the vaccine doses to the country. "Wheels up! Our donation of 2.5 million vaccine doses is on the way to Taiwan," State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a tweet. China and the United States have repeatedly clashed over relation with Taiwan with tensions rising in the Taiwan Straits over the US aircraft carriers travelling through the troubled waters. China considers Taiwan as a breakaway province, however, the US has enured arms sale to the country in order to keep Chinese influence at bay even though it does not have official diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Last week, Chinese jets entered Taiwan's airspace leading the Taiwanese Air Force to scramble its jets as tensions continued between the two countries. (With inputs from Agencies)

Don't seek political manipulation, says China after US sends vaccine to Taiwan

Amid a surge in coronavirus cases, reports say authorities in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/fast-furious-star-john-cena-apologises-for-calling-taiwan-a-country-387354">Taiwan</a> have been searching for 300 people who tested positive for coronavirus.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/taiwan-blames-china-for-who-meet-snub-as-it-fails-to-get-into-crucial-wha-meet-387217/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The country has witnessed a surge in cases.

However, it hasn't been able to ramp up its vaccination drive with just one per cent population receiving the jab.

Taiwan's government officials have requested the Biden administration for more vaccines.&nbsp;

Earlier, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-lab-origin-theory-gains-traction-in-united-states-387436">China</a> had offered vaccines to the country but it was rejected by Tsai Ing-wen who accused the Chinese leadership of blocking the BioNTech vaccine.

The Taiwan government had ordered 20 million vaccines from AstraZeneca and Moderna, but just 700,000 shots have arrived so far.

Last week, the country had raised the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-19-b1617-variant-now-found-in-at-least-53-territories-who-387403">COVID-19</a> alert level due to the rising number of cases as authorities moved to close the nation to non-resident foreigners for a month.

Authorities had detected &nbsp;267 locally transmitted infections as the country reported over 1,200 local infections in five days.&nbsp;

The government has imposed Level 3 alert, closing down entertainment and sports venues, including libraries and sports stadiums.

Level 4 would mean a total lockdown of the country.

The country had successfully contained the virus for the past one year, reporting just over 6,000 cases and 46 deaths.

Amid a surge in coronavirus cases, reports say authorities in Taiwan have been searching for 300 people who tested positive for coronavirus. Watch: The country has witnessed a surge in cases.

Amid a surge in coronavirus cases, reports say authorities in Taiwan have been searching for 300 people who tested positive for coronavirus. Watch: The country has witnessed a surge in cases. However, it hasn't been able to ramp up its vaccination drive with just one per cent population receiving the jab. Taiwan's government officials have requested the Biden administration for more vaccines. Earlier, China had offered vaccines to the country but it was rejected by Tsai Ing-wen who accused the Chinese leadership of blocking the BioNTech vaccine. The Taiwan government had ordered 20 million vaccines from AstraZeneca and Moderna, but just 700,000 shots have arrived so far. Last week, the country had raised the COVID-19 alert level due to the rising number of cases as authorities moved to close the nation to non-resident foreigners for a month. Authorities had detected 267 locally transmitted infections as the country reported over 1,200 local infections in five days. The government has imposed Level 3 alert, closing down entertainment and sports venues, including libraries and sports stadiums. Level 4 would mean a total lockdown of the country. The country had successfully contained the virus for the past one year, reporting just over 6,000 cases and 46 deaths.

Taiwan seeks more vaccines from US amid virus surge

As Taiwan is struggling to control the rising number of coronavirus infections in the country, the health minister has assured locals that the government will find a solution to the testing issue.

The country’s healthcare system is struggling to test people for infection and the overflow of covid tests has led to a massive delay in the reports, which the officials are referring to as a "traffic jam".

However, the health department has assured that the government is already working on clearing the backlog and finding solutions to make sure such a situation does not take place again.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/covid-19-imf-pitches-50bn-plan-to-end-coronavirus-386814">Watch |</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/covid-19-imf-pitches-50bn-plan-to-end-coronavirus-386814/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"I believe that we will quickly be able to resolve this systemic issue," Health Minister Chen Shih-chung said.

He also announced 570 positive cases which has not been included in the previous reports due to the same “traffic jam”.

However, the government is being criticised for not being able to report the right figures of positive cases.

"Today the command centre created a new expression, 'regression calibration', adding 400 new infections," Johnny Chiang, chairman of the main opposition party the Kuomintang said. "This information has terrified everyone, as the daily numbers being received were inaccurate."

This term has also brought amusement for locals in form of jokes and memes. While some are poking fun at the term, others are skeptical of the government’s capacity to handle the worsening situation.

As Taiwan is struggling to control the rising number of coronavirus infections in the country, the health minister has assured locals that the government will find a solution to the testing issue.

As Taiwan is struggling to control the rising number of coronavirus infections in the country, the health minister has assured locals that the government will find a solution to the testing issue. The country’s healthcare system is struggling to test people for infection and the overflow of covid tests has led to a massive delay in the reports, which the officials are referring to as a "traffic jam". However, the health department has assured that the government is already working on clearing the backlog and finding solutions to make sure such a situation does not take place again. Watch | "I believe that we will quickly be able to resolve this systemic issue," Health Minister Chen Shih-chung said. He also announced 570 positive cases which has not been included in the previous reports due to the same “traffic jam”. However, the government is being criticised for not being able to report the right figures of positive cases. "Today the command centre created a new expression, 'regression calibration', adding 400 new infections," Johnny Chiang, chairman of the main opposition party the Kuomintang said. "This information has terrified everyone, as the daily numbers being received were inaccurate." This term has also brought amusement for locals in form of jokes and memes. While some are poking fun at the term, others are skeptical of the government’s capacity to handle the worsening situation.

Taiwan reassures on clearing covid 'traffic jam'

As the coronavirus has upended lives and economies around the world, Taiwan has been an oasis.

Every day, droplets fly with abandon in packed restaurants, bars and cafes. Office buildings hum, and schools resound with the shrieks and laughter of maskless children. In October, a Pride parade drew an estimated 130,000 people to the streets of this capital city. Rainbow masks were abundant; social distancing, not so much.

Taiwan, an island of 24 million that has seen just 10 COVID-19 deaths and fewer than 1,000 cases, has used its success to sell something in short supply: living without fear of the coronavirus. The relatively few people who are allowed to enter Taiwan have been coming in droves, and they’ve helped to fuel an economic boom.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/can-the-world-learn-from-south-africas-vaccine-trials-370380" hreflang="en">Can the world learn from South Africa’s vaccine trials?</a>

“For a while, Taiwan felt a little empty. A lot of people moved abroad and only came back once in a while,” said Justine Li, head chef at Fleur de Sel, a Michelin-starred restaurant in the city of Taichung, adding that the restaurant had been booked up for a month in advance since fall. “Now, some of those once-in-a-while guests have moved back.”

These <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">COVID</a> migrants are largely overseas Taiwanese and dual nationals. They have included businesspeople, students, retirees and well-known figures such as Eddie Huang, a Taiwanese-American restaurateur and author. About 270,000 more Taiwanese entered the island than left it in 2020, according to the immigration authorities — about four times the net inflow of the previous year.

Taiwan’s borders have been mostly closed to foreign visitors since spring. But highly skilled non-Taiwanese workers have been allowed in under a “gold card” employment program, which the government has aggressively promoted during the pandemic. Since Jan. 31, 2020, more than 1,600 gold cards have been issued, more than four times as many as in 2019.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-has-increased-social-inequality-in-uk-survey-369696" hreflang="en">Coronavirus has increased social inequality in UK: Survey</a>

The influx of people helped make Taiwan one of last year’s fastest-growing economies — indeed, one of the few to expand at all. There was a brief slowdown at the start of the pandemic, but the economy grew more than 5% in the fourth quarter compared with the same period in 2019. The government expects 4.6% growth in 2021, which would be the fastest pace in seven years.

Steve Chen, 42, a Taiwanese-American entrepreneur who co-founded YouTube, was the first to sign up for the gold card program. He moved to the island from San Francisco with his wife and two children in 2019. Then, after the pandemic hit, many of his friends in Silicon Valley, particularly those with Taiwanese heritage, began to join him — a reverse brain drain, of sorts.

He and colleagues such as Kevin Lin, a co-founder of Twitch, and Kai Huang, a co-creator of Guitar Hero, have traded coffee meetups at the Ferry Building in San Francisco for badminton matches and poker nights in Taipei. Taiwan’s leaders say the infusion of foreign talent has given a shot of energy to its tech industry, which is better known for manufacturing prowess than for entrepreneurial culture.

“That whole chain that you have in the Silicon Valley — the entrepreneurs who are willing to take a risk, the investors that are willing to write an early check — all of those folks have actually come back and are in Taiwan now,” said Chen, lounging on a couch at his office in a government-backed coworking space in Taipei.

“I feel like it’s a golden era for tech,” he said, “and it’s dawning on the government that they should really take advantage of this time now.”

The surge of returning citizens has put a squeeze on the short-term rental market. One property manager estimated that the number of dual nationals or overseas Taiwanese looking for apartments was twice as high in 2020 as in most recent years.

Not all of Taiwan’s industries have been flourishing. Those that depend on robust international travel, including airlines, hotels and tour companies, have taken big hits. But exports have been on the rise for eight straight months, fueled by shipments of electronics and surging demand for Taiwan’s most important product: semiconductor chips.

Domestic tourism is also booming. Taiwanese who had been used to taking short flights to Japan or Southeast Asia are now exploring their home. Sightseeing destinations such as Sun Moon Lake and the Alishan mountain resort area have been swamped with tourists, and at least one upscale hotel outside Taichung is booked through July.

Orchid Island, a small, coral-ringed island off Taiwan’s east coast, had so many visitors last summer that hotel operators started a campaign encouraging them to take 2 pounds of trash with them when they left.

Some aspects of pandemic life have permeated Taiwan’s borders. Temperature checks and hand sanitizing are common, and masks are required in many public places (though not schools).

But for the most part, the virus has been out of sight and out of mind, thanks to rigorous contact tracing and strict quarantines for incoming travelers.

Some returnees, including Robin Wei, 35, are dreading their eventual departure.

“We just feel very lucky and definitely a little guilty,” said Wei, a product manager for a Bay Area tech company who returned to Taipei with his wife and young son in May. “We feel like we are the ones who benefited from the pandemic.”

For many, coming back has meant a chance to reconnect with Taiwan.

After getting a master’s degree in computer science in Australia, Joshua Yang, 25, a dual Taiwanese-Australian citizen, decided to return in October. The job market in Australia was looking bleak, he said, so he took the opportunity to do the military service required of all Taiwanese men under 36.

Yang wasn’t the only one with that idea. When he arrived for basic training in December, Yang said, he found himself bunking with an assorted group of returnees and dual nationals, including an American, a German, a Filipino and an overseas Taiwanese who had been studying in California.

Since completing 2 1/2 weeks of training, Yang has been allowed to finish out his service by volunteering at an Indigenous history museum in a remote town in southern Taiwan.

“It’s something that I have always wanted to do, but I don’t know if I would have had the opportunity if it weren’t for the pandemic,” Yang said. “I’ve been able to understand my homeland in a different way through a different lens and learn what it’s like for the Indigenous people of Taiwan, who are the traditional owners of the land.”

Many are wondering how long Taiwan’s status as a COVID-19 outlier can last, especially as vaccine rollouts surge forward elsewhere. So far, officials have been slow to procure and distribute vaccines, in part because there has been so little need for them. The government announced just this month that it had received its first batch, to be given to medical workers.

Some people, including Tai Ling Sun, 72, are already making plans to leave the bubble.

In January, Sun and her husband came from California to the city of Kaohsiung, where she grew up, at the urging of friends and family in Taiwan. They were concerned about her safety in Orange County, where coronavirus cases had been on the rise.

After two weeks in quarantine, Sun stepped out into a Taiwan that — aside from the masks — looked and felt almost exactly as it had on previous visits. She has since been making the most of her stay with a series of routine medical checkups, something that many in the United States have been delaying since the pandemic started.

But a virus-free paradise doesn’t provide immunity to all ailments. Sun said she had begun to feel homesick. She longed to see her five children and breathe pristine suburban air. And, she added, she wanted a vaccine.

“It’s been great to be here,” Sun said. “But it’s time to go home.”

As the coronavirus has upended lives and economies around the world, Taiwan has been an oasis. Every day, droplets fly with abandon in packed restaurants, bars and cafes.

As the coronavirus has upended lives and economies around the world, Taiwan has been an oasis. Every day, droplets fly with abandon in packed restaurants, bars and cafes. Office buildings hum, and schools resound with the shrieks and laughter of maskless children. In October, a Pride parade drew an estimated 130,000 people to the streets of this capital city. Rainbow masks were abundant; social distancing, not so much. Taiwan, an island of 24 million that has seen just 10 COVID-19 deaths and fewer than 1,000 cases, has used its success to sell something in short supply: living without fear of the coronavirus. The relatively few people who are allowed to enter Taiwan have been coming in droves, and they’ve helped to fuel an economic boom. Also read | Can the world learn from South Africa’s vaccine trials? “For a while, Taiwan felt a little empty. A lot of people moved abroad and only came back once in a while,” said Justine Li, head chef at Fleur de Sel, a Michelin-starred restaurant in the city of Taichung, adding that the restaurant had been booked up for a month in advance since fall. “Now, some of those once-in-a-while guests have moved back.” These COVID migrants are largely overseas Taiwanese and dual nationals. They have included businesspeople, students, retirees and well-known figures such as Eddie Huang, a Taiwanese-American restaurateur and author. About 270,000 more Taiwanese entered the island than left it in 2020, according to the immigration authorities — about four times the net inflow of the previous year. Taiwan’s borders have been mostly closed to foreign visitors since spring. But highly skilled non-Taiwanese workers have been allowed in under a “gold card” employment program, which the government has aggressively promoted during the pandemic. Since Jan. 31, 2020, more than 1,600 gold cards have been issued, more than four times as many as in 2019. Also read | Coronavirus has increased social inequality in UK: Survey The influx of people helped make Taiwan one of last year’s fastest-growing economies — indeed, one of the few to expand at all. There was a brief slowdown at the start of the pandemic, but the economy grew more than 5% in the fourth quarter compared with the same period in 2019. The government expects 4.6% growth in 2021, which would be the fastest pace in seven years. Steve Chen, 42, a Taiwanese-American entrepreneur who co-founded YouTube, was the first to sign up for the gold card program. He moved to the island from San Francisco with his wife and two children in 2019. Then, after the pandemic hit, many of his friends in Silicon Valley, particularly those with Taiwanese heritage, began to join him — a reverse brain drain, of sorts. He and colleagues such as Kevin Lin, a co-founder of Twitch, and Kai Huang, a co-creator of Guitar Hero, have traded coffee meetups at the Ferry Building in San Francisco for badminton matches and poker nights in Taipei. Taiwan’s leaders say the infusion of foreign talent has given a shot of energy to its tech industry, which is better known for manufacturing prowess than for entrepreneurial culture. “That whole chain that you have in the Silicon Valley — the entrepreneurs who are willing to take a risk, the investors that are willing to write an early check — all of those folks have actually come back and are in Taiwan now,” said Chen, lounging on a couch at his office in a government-backed coworking space in Taipei. “I feel like it’s a golden era for tech,” he said, “and it’s dawning on the government that they should really take advantage of this time now.” The surge of returning citizens has put a squeeze on the short-term rental market. One property manager estimated that the number of dual nationals or overseas Taiwanese looking for apartments was twice as high in 2020 as in most recent years. Not all of Taiwan’s industries have been flourishing. Those that depend on robust international travel, including airlines, hotels and tour companies, have taken big hits. But exports have been on the rise for eight straight months, fueled by shipments of electronics and surging demand for Taiwan’s most important product: semiconductor chips. Domestic tourism is also booming. Taiwanese who had been used to taking short flights to Japan or Southeast Asia are now exploring their home. Sightseeing destinations such as Sun Moon Lake and the Alishan mountain resort area have been swamped with tourists, and at least one upscale hotel outside Taichung is booked through July. Orchid Island, a small, coral-ringed island off Taiwan’s east coast, had so many visitors last summer that hotel operators started a campaign encouraging them to take 2 pounds of trash with them when they left. Some aspects of pandemic life have permeated Taiwan’s borders. Temperature checks and hand sanitizing are common, and masks are required in many public places (though not schools). But for the most part, the virus has been out of sight and out of mind, thanks to rigorous contact tracing and strict quarantines for incoming travelers. Some returnees, including Robin Wei, 35, are dreading their eventual departure. “We just feel very lucky and definitely a little guilty,” said Wei, a product manager for a Bay Area tech company who returned to Taipei with his wife and young son in May. “We feel like we are the ones who benefited from the pandemic.” For many, coming back has meant a chance to reconnect with Taiwan. After getting a master’s degree in computer science in Australia, Joshua Yang, 25, a dual Taiwanese-Australian citizen, decided to return in October. The job market in Australia was looking bleak, he said, so he took the opportunity to do the military service required of all Taiwanese men under 36. Yang wasn’t the only one with that idea. When he arrived for basic training in December, Yang said, he found himself bunking with an assorted group of returnees and dual nationals, including an American, a German, a Filipino and an overseas Taiwanese who had been studying in California. Since completing 2 1/2 weeks of training, Yang has been allowed to finish out his service by volunteering at an Indigenous history museum in a remote town in southern Taiwan. “It’s something that I have always wanted to do, but I don’t know if I would have had the opportunity if it weren’t for the pandemic,” Yang said. “I’ve been able to understand my homeland in a different way through a different lens and learn what it’s like for the Indigenous people of Taiwan, who are the traditional owners of the land.” Many are wondering how long Taiwan’s status as a COVID-19 outlier can last, especially as vaccine rollouts surge forward elsewhere. So far, officials have been slow to procure and distribute vaccines, in part because there has been so little need for them. The government announced just this month that it had received its first batch, to be given to medical workers. Some people, including Tai Ling Sun, 72, are already making plans to leave the bubble. In January, Sun and her husband came from California to the city of Kaohsiung, where she grew up, at the urging of friends and family in Taiwan. They were concerned about her safety in Orange County, where coronavirus cases had been on the rise. After two weeks in quarantine, Sun stepped out into a Taiwan that — aside from the masks — looked and felt almost exactly as it had on previous visits. She has since been making the most of her stay with a series of routine medical checkups, something that many in the United States have been delaying since the pandemic started. But a virus-free paradise doesn’t provide immunity to all ailments. Sun said she had begun to feel homesick. She longed to see her five children and breathe pristine suburban air. And, she added, she wanted a vaccine. “It’s been great to be here,” Sun said. “But it’s time to go home.”

COVID? What COVID? Taiwan thrives as a bubble of normality.

Taiwan’s government on Saturday reported the island’s first death from COVID-19 since May, as it battles a small and unusual outbreak of locally transmitted cases.

A woman in her 80s with underlying health conditions died after being infected with the coronavirus as part of a domestic cluster connected to a hospital, said Health Minister Chen Shih-chung.

Taiwan took early and effective steps to control the virus, with the large majority of its 909 confirmed cases in people who caught COVID-19 abroad. The new outbreak has infected 19 people since the start of the month, centring on a hospital in the northern city of Taoyuan.

Chen, reporting four new cases from the hospital cluster, announced the death, bringing to eight the total number of deaths in Taiwan from the pandemic.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/taiwan-reports-1st-covid-19-death-in-8-months-360322">WATCH|</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/taiwan-reports-1st-covid-19-death-in-8-months-360322/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

He said the woman, who had a history of kidney problems and diabetes, had died late Friday after developing symptoms including a high fever and subsequently tested positive for COVID-19.

The woman lived in the same household as a nurse who worked at the hospital and was infected there, according to a breakdown of the infections provided by Chen.

The government has instituted measures to control the hospital outbreak, including putting more than 4,000 people in quarantine and cancelling large-scale public events ahead of February’s week-long Lunar New Year holiday.

Taiwan’s case numbers remain low compared to many countries around the world, with 78 people now being treated in hospital. Taiwan has so few cases the government holds news conferences to announce details of each new one.

Taiwan’s government on Saturday reported the island’s first death from COVID-19 since May, as it battles a small and unusual outbreak of locally transmitted cases.

Taiwan’s government on Saturday reported the island’s first death from COVID-19 since May, as it battles a small and unusual outbreak of locally transmitted cases. A woman in her 80s with underlying health conditions died after being infected with the coronavirus as part of a domestic cluster connected to a hospital, said Health Minister Chen Shih-chung. Taiwan took early and effective steps to control the virus, with the large majority of its 909 confirmed cases in people who caught COVID-19 abroad. The new outbreak has infected 19 people since the start of the month, centring on a hospital in the northern city of Taoyuan. Chen, reporting four new cases from the hospital cluster, announced the death, bringing to eight the total number of deaths in Taiwan from the pandemic. WATCH| He said the woman, who had a history of kidney problems and diabetes, had died late Friday after developing symptoms including a high fever and subsequently tested positive for COVID-19. The woman lived in the same household as a nurse who worked at the hospital and was infected there, according to a breakdown of the infections provided by Chen. The government has instituted measures to control the hospital outbreak, including putting more than 4,000 people in quarantine and cancelling large-scale public events ahead of February’s week-long Lunar New Year holiday. Taiwan’s case numbers remain low compared to many countries around the world, with 78 people now being treated in hospital. Taiwan has so few cases the government holds news conferences to announce details of each new one.

Taiwan reports first COVID-19 death in eight months, from local cluster

A Taiwanese businessman who recently returned from China has been fined $35,700 for violating his quarantine seven times within three days.

CNN reported that the unnamed man, who lives in Taichung in central Taiwan, was under home quarantine in his apartment building after he returned from a business trip to China and violated it at least seven times, according to local media.

The man left his apartment building seven times in just three days to go shopping, get his car fixed and more. He reportedly got into an altercation with one of his neighbours when they confronted him about leaving his home during quarantine, CNN citing TTV News reported.

Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen denounced it as "a serious offence" and added that the man "must be given severe punishment.

"Along with the heavy fine, he will have to pay 3,000 NTD (USD 107) per day for the cost of his quarantine. Last year, in December, a worker from the Philippines was fined $3,500 for violating his quarantine for a total of eight seconds.&nbsp;

The man, who was placed under quarantine in a government-sanctioned hotel, briefly stepped into the hallway outside his room and was captured on CCTV, CNN reported further. Taiwan recorded just 889 coronavirus cases and seven deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

(With inputs from agencies)

A Taiwanese businessman who recently returned from China has been fined $35,700 for violating his quarantine seven times within three days. CNN reported that the unnamed man, who lives in Taichung in central Taiwan, was under home quarantine in his apartment building after he returned from a business trip to China and violated it at least seven times, according to local media.

A Taiwanese businessman who recently returned from China has been fined $35,700 for violating his quarantine seven times within three days. CNN reported that the unnamed man, who lives in Taichung in central Taiwan, was under home quarantine in his apartment building after he returned from a business trip to China and violated it at least seven times, according to local media. The man left his apartment building seven times in just three days to go shopping, get his car fixed and more. He reportedly got into an altercation with one of his neighbours when they confronted him about leaving his home during quarantine, CNN citing TTV News reported. Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen denounced it as "a serious offence" and added that the man "must be given severe punishment. "Along with the heavy fine, he will have to pay 3,000 NTD (USD 107) per day for the cost of his quarantine. Last year, in December, a worker from the Philippines was fined $3,500 for violating his quarantine for a total of eight seconds. The man, who was placed under quarantine in a government-sanctioned hotel, briefly stepped into the hallway outside his room and was captured on CCTV, CNN reported further. Taiwan recorded just 889 coronavirus cases and seven deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. (With inputs from agencies)

Taiwanese man fined $35,000 for violating quarantine 7 times in 3 days

Taiwan reported on Wednesday its first case of a new coronavirus variant discovered in Britain, in a person who returned to the island on Sunday and whose infection had previously been confirmed.

The new strain, which first emerged in the UK, pushed Britain to a new daily record of infections and led South Africa to impose a raft of new measures, amid fears around the world that holiday revelers are aggravating the spike in infections.&nbsp;

It has been detected in a number of European countries, as well as in the US, Canada, Australia, India, South Korea and Japan, among others.

The EU health agency warned the strain carried a high risk for more hospitalizations and deaths -- not because the infections are more severe but because it spreads more easily.

Taiwan reported on Wednesday its first case of a new coronavirus variant discovered in Britain, in a person who returned to the island on Sunday and whose infection had previously been confirmed.

Taiwan reported on Wednesday its first case of a new coronavirus variant discovered in Britain, in a person who returned to the island on Sunday and whose infection had previously been confirmed. The new strain, which first emerged in the UK, pushed Britain to a new daily record of infections and led South Africa to impose a raft of new measures, amid fears around the world that holiday revelers are aggravating the spike in infections. It has been detected in a number of European countries, as well as in the US, Canada, Australia, India, South Korea and Japan, among others. The EU health agency warned the strain carried a high risk for more hospitalizations and deaths -- not because the infections are more severe but because it spreads more easily.

Taiwan reports first case of new coronavirus variant found in Britain

Tsai ing-wen starts her second term as Taiwan’s president on May 20 in Taipei. Besides a record approval rating and a so-far successful effort to contain the coronavirus outbreak, Tsai has benefited from an upswing of support from the US and its allies.

Tsai ing-wen begins second term as Taiwan's President

As social distancing has taken over the world, a lot of businesses have suffered losses. However,&nbsp;a young Taiwanese sommelier has decided to not let the lockdown get the better of him. To keep his business afloat,&nbsp;Peter Petrus is teaching the art of wine tasting to his online audience by live streaming from his studio in Taipei.

“So I started contemplating if there might be a way to work around this situation - at the end of the day the company has to keep going,” said Peter.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-warship-sails-through-sensitive-taiwan-strait-for-the-second-time-in-a-month-294403">Also read: US warship sails through sensitive Taiwan Strait for the second time in a month</a>

Peter sends different wine samples to his online students and then the students who receive the samples join him for an online class. He films the videos and livestreams via his smartphone. While he has been able to keep his students happy, sometime he feels that "The problem with wine is that it starts oxidation once you open the bottle."

His students, too, have been enjoying these online classes and find the idea of this class to be quite special.

“It feels just the same (as being there) with a bit of additional warmth and chill-out, because it’s so cozy at home,” says Candice Yang, a 32-year-old maths teacher.

Taiwan has managed to contain the spread of the virus. There are only 429 reported positive cases, 6 deaths and 275 recovered patients. However, the rules of social distancing still apply in Taiwan.

As social distancing has taken over the world, a lot of businesses have suffered losses. However, a young Taiwanese sommelier has decided to not let the lockdown get the better of him.

As social distancing has taken over the world, a lot of businesses have suffered losses. However, a young Taiwanese sommelier has decided to not let the lockdown get the better of him. To keep his business afloat, Peter Petrus is teaching the art of wine tasting to his online audience by live streaming from his studio in Taipei. “So I started contemplating if there might be a way to work around this situation - at the end of the day the company has to keep going,” said Peter. Also read: US warship sails through sensitive Taiwan Strait for the second time in a month Peter sends different wine samples to his online students and then the students who receive the samples join him for an online class. He films the videos and livestreams via his smartphone. While he has been able to keep his students happy, sometime he feels that "The problem with wine is that it starts oxidation once you open the bottle." His students, too, have been enjoying these online classes and find the idea of this class to be quite special. “It feels just the same (as being there) with a bit of additional warmth and chill-out, because it’s so cozy at home,” says Candice Yang, a 32-year-old maths teacher. Taiwan has managed to contain the spread of the virus. There are only 429 reported positive cases, 6 deaths and 275 recovered patients. However, the rules of social distancing still apply in Taiwan.

Taiwan sommelier teaches  wine tasting through online classes to fight lockdown blues

Women leaders are the secret weapon in the fight against coronavirus as countries lead by them are all doing an exceptional job in their response to the&nbsp;crisis.

These countries&nbsp;have contained the pandemic through early, scientific intervention. They have implemented widespread testing, easy access to quality medical treatment, aggressive contact tracing and tough restrictions on social gatherings.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-germany-moving-towards-gradual-reopening-as-virus-cases-drops-292304">Coronavirus: Germany moving towards gradual reopening as virus cases drops</a>

German Chancellor Angela Merkel,&nbsp;told her countrymen that this the virus&nbsp;is ''serious'' and would&nbsp;infect up to 70 per cent&nbsp;of the population.&nbsp;

<img alt="Angela Merkel" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3b62a3d5-3a4c-4233-8113-9d3d8cc2281f" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/86670-123.jpg" /> 
Angela Merkel

Despite being hard-hit by the virus its mortality rate is much lower than its neighbouring countries still struggling to cope up with the novel virus.

A number of factors fed&nbsp;Germany’s low death rates, including&nbsp;early and widespread testing&nbsp;and a large number of intensive care beds. Again, however, the country’s leadership plays a role.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-zealand-waits-to-see-if-lockdown-working-as-virus-cases-stay-low-289820">New Zealand waits to see if lockdown working, as virus cases stay low</a>

Among the first and the fastest moves from global leaders against COVID-19 came from Taiwan's President&nbsp;Tsai Ing-wen.

<img alt="Tsai Ing-wen" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8c830758-dd1d-47d6-9082-9b94dd8ec891" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/117260-untitled-design.jpg" /> 
Tsai Ing-wen

At the first sign of a new illness, she set up an epidemic command center, ramped up production of personal protective equipment such as face masks and restricted all flights from mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau.

She also introduced 124 measures to block the spread in January, without having to resort to the lockdowns that have become common elsewhere.

Taiwan is now sending 10 million face masks to the United States and Europe.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The US State Department cites Taiwan's coronavirus success in calling for Taiwan to be given observer status in the WHO's World Health Assembly.

New Zealand, led by Jacinda Ardern, announced an early lockdown and closed borders to foreign visitors on March 19&nbsp;there were just 6 cases in the whole country.

<img alt="Jacinda Ardern" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bf64429a-cf91-4cf5-9336-1e70eaada9bc" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/86902-2019-03-13t060439z1lynxmpef2c0k4rtroptp4eu-newzealand.jpg" /> 
Jacinda Ardern

The country has carried out&nbsp;widespread testing&nbsp;and recorded over 1,300 coronavirus cases, but only nine deaths.

Iceland, under the leadership of Prime Minister&nbsp;Katrín Jakobsdóttir, is offering&nbsp;free coronavirus testing&nbsp;to all its citizens.

Finland's Prime&nbsp;Minister&nbsp;Sanna Marin&nbsp;invited&nbsp;influencers of any age to spread fact-based information on managing the pandemic.

Norway’s Prime Minister, Erna Solberg, used&nbsp;the innovative idea of using television to talk directly to her country’s children and address their doubts and queries.

The success of these and other women-led governments in dealing with a global pandemic is all the more noteworthy, given that women make up less than&nbsp;7 per cent&nbsp;of world leaders.

Women leaders are the secret weapon in the fight against coronavirus as countries lead by them are all doing an exceptional job in their response to the crisis. These countries have contained the pandemic through early, scientific intervention.

Women leaders are the secret weapon in the fight against coronavirus as countries lead by them are all doing an exceptional job in their response to the crisis. These countries have contained the pandemic through early, scientific intervention. They have implemented widespread testing, easy access to quality medical treatment, aggressive contact tracing and tough restrictions on social gatherings. Also read: Coronavirus: Germany moving towards gradual reopening as virus cases drops German Chancellor Angela Merkel, told her countrymen that this the virus is ''serious'' and would infect up to 70 per cent of the population. Angela Merkel Despite being hard-hit by the virus its mortality rate is much lower than its neighbouring countries still struggling to cope up with the novel virus. A number of factors fed Germany’s low death rates, including early and widespread testing and a large number of intensive care beds. Again, however, the country’s leadership plays a role. Also read: New Zealand waits to see if lockdown working, as virus cases stay low Among the first and the fastest moves from global leaders against COVID-19 came from Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen. Tsai Ing-wen At the first sign of a new illness, she set up an epidemic command center, ramped up production of personal protective equipment such as face masks and restricted all flights from mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau. She also introduced 124 measures to block the spread in January, without having to resort to the lockdowns that have become common elsewhere. Taiwan is now sending 10 million face masks to the United States and Europe. The US State Department cites Taiwan's coronavirus success in calling for Taiwan to be given observer status in the WHO's World Health Assembly. New Zealand, led by Jacinda Ardern, announced an early lockdown and closed borders to foreign visitors on March 19 there were just 6 cases in the whole country. Jacinda Ardern The country has carried out widespread testing and recorded over 1,300 coronavirus cases, but only nine deaths. Iceland, under the leadership of Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir, is offering free coronavirus testing to all its citizens. Finland's Prime Minister Sanna Marin invited influencers of any age to spread fact-based information on managing the pandemic. Norway’s Prime Minister, Erna Solberg, used the innovative idea of using television to talk directly to her country’s children and address their doubts and queries. The success of these and other women-led governments in dealing with a global pandemic is all the more noteworthy, given that women make up less than 7 per cent of world leaders.

How countries with female leaders are faring better than others during global pandemic?

While other countries are advising their citizens against panic shopping and hoarding of supplies, Taiwan has taken a very different approach. On Thursday, Taiwan Premiere advised people to "buy as much as possible" as it is an "ideal opportunity" to help the country's economic woes.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/precaution-not-panic-here-are-narratives-of-people-who-have-successfully-recovered-from-covid-19-286789">Also read: Precaution, not panic -&nbsp;Here are narratives of people who have successfully recovered from Covid-19</a>

"Buy as much as possible, there's plenty of goods", said Taiwan Premier Su Tseng-chang in a Facebook post while pointing out that the country has enough food and basic supplies for every citizen.

"Taiwan is a kingdom of fruits, a kingdom of fisheries, and a big food processing country. During the Wuhan pneumonia epidemic, as the economy is slowing down, of course, the government encourages everyone to enthusiastically buy," he wrote.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/world-markets-plunge-deepens-as-coronavirus-panic-worsens-286011">Also read: World markets plunge deepens as coronavirus panic worsens</a>

"If people aren't spending outside and want to cook for themselves at home, buy more vegetables and fruit, buy more Taiwanese agricultural products, cheer on the farmers. This is a great thing," he said, adding that the island's farmers would welcome the support.

While Taiwan has only reported 108 cases of the virus, large rises in recent days from people returning from overseas has prompted some people to rush to supermarkets to stock up.

The Premiere's latest comments come after the country's health minister urged citizens to not hoard on supplies and said whoever found doing so will be punished accordingly.

Export-reliant Taiwan's economy has been buffeted by the virus. On Thursday the central bank cut interest rates for the first time in more than four years to a new low and shaved its outlook for economic growth this year to 1.92% from 2.57% forecasted in December.

The government is also rolling out a T$60 billion ($1.98 billion) stimulus package.

While other countries are advising their citizens against panic shopping and hoarding of supplies, Taiwan has taken a very different approach. On Thursday, Taiwan Premiere advised people to "buy as much as possible" as it is an "ideal opportunity" to help the country's economic woes.

While other countries are advising their citizens against panic shopping and hoarding of supplies, Taiwan has taken a very different approach. On Thursday, Taiwan Premiere advised people to "buy as much as possible" as it is an "ideal opportunity" to help the country's economic woes. Also read: Precaution, not panic - Here are narratives of people who have successfully recovered from Covid-19 "Buy as much as possible, there's plenty of goods", said Taiwan Premier Su Tseng-chang in a Facebook post while pointing out that the country has enough food and basic supplies for every citizen. "Taiwan is a kingdom of fruits, a kingdom of fisheries, and a big food processing country. During the Wuhan pneumonia epidemic, as the economy is slowing down, of course, the government encourages everyone to enthusiastically buy," he wrote. Also read: World markets plunge deepens as coronavirus panic worsens "If people aren't spending outside and want to cook for themselves at home, buy more vegetables and fruit, buy more Taiwanese agricultural products, cheer on the farmers. This is a great thing," he said, adding that the island's farmers would welcome the support. While Taiwan has only reported 108 cases of the virus, large rises in recent days from people returning from overseas has prompted some people to rush to supermarkets to stock up. The Premiere's latest comments come after the country's health minister urged citizens to not hoard on supplies and said whoever found doing so will be punished accordingly. Export-reliant Taiwan's economy has been buffeted by the virus. On Thursday the central bank cut interest rates for the first time in more than four years to a new low and shaved its outlook for economic growth this year to 1.92% from 2.57% forecasted in December. The government is also rolling out a T$60 billion ($1.98 billion) stimulus package.

'Buy as much as possible' it will help the economy: Taiwan Premiere's to panic shoppers