Today (the 9th), the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) confirms 40,263 new domestic COVID-19 cases, including 2,099 cases from Taichung. Among Taichung’s new confirmed cases, 535 had close contact with existing coronavirus patients. This number includes 73 cases from school clusters, 96 from workplace clusters and 366 from family and social clusters; and the rest of the cases are still under investigation. At today’s epidemic prevention press conference, Mayor Lu Shiow-yen announces that, to alleviate the medical burden of hospital emergency rooms, the “Express PCR Test in Clinic” mechanism will be launched tomorrow under the cooperation of the Taichung City government and local clinics. Citizens who have a positive COVID-19 result from a rapid antigen test (RAT) at home or have obvious COVID-19 symptoms may, after being diagnosed by a clinic physician, take a PCR test at one of the 7 designated clinics in the City. Those with COVID-19 symptoms can also receive medicine prescription or health education according to the physician’s diagnosis. This will help coronavirus patients to save time in medical treatment.

At today’s Taichung City Epidemic Command Center press conference, Mayor Lu points out that, following the increasing number of confirmed cases, the city government has cooperated with major medical institutions to launch the “Express Service for RAT Positive Cases” and “Express Medical Service for Children” to maintain the city’s medical treatment capacity and to effectively divert patients in order to better take care of them. This medical mechanism has received positive feedback from the public; and emulated by other county and city governments. To further expand and strengthen the medical capacity and alleviate the medical burden of hospital emergency rooms, the Health Bureau of Taichung City Government has proactively communicated and negotiated with local clinics to launch the “Express PCR Test in Clinic” service, which will be in effect tomorrow.

Mayor Lu expresses that people who have a positive COVID-19 result from a rapid antigen test (RAT) at home or have obvious COVID-19 symptoms may, after being diagnosed by a clinic physician, take a PCR test at one of the seven clinics designed by the city government, including “Giraffe Pediatric Clinic” (Dongshi), “Chang Tsung-sheng Otorhinolaryngology Clinic” (Fengyuan), “Cheng An Otorhinolaryngology Clinic” (Beitun), “Cyuan Sin Lai Clinic” (Dajia), Xitun Industry Park Clinic (Xitun), “Jhu Yue Clinic” (Nantun) and “Dong Ning Otorhinolaryngology Clinic” (Nantun). Those who have a positive RAT result but do not have any symptoms can return home after the PCR test. Those who have symptoms or any medical need may be diagnosed by the clinic’s physician first to receive medicine prescription or health education; and then return home and wait for the PCR test result. Mayor Lu has delivered special thanks to the medical staff of these 7 clinics. They are the first batch of health care workers who have joined the battle, helping the City to boost its epidemic prevention capacity. It is also the city government’s aspiration that more clinics will join the “Express PCR Test in Clinic” mechanism.

With respect to Taichung City’s statistics on home health care, Mayor Lu points out that, as of 10 a.m. today, 14,042 people are under evaluation. Among them, 12,156 people have been accepted as home health care targets; 1,051 people (7.5%) are under further evaluation; and 835 people (5.9%) do not comply with the acceptance conditions. As for Taichung’s medical capacity, the City has 753 beds for COVID-19 patients, including 280 beds in use (37.18%) and 473 available ones (62.82%).

Concerning the diversion of patients with no or light symptoms, Mayor Lu explains that Taichung City already launched the “Home Health Care Plan”, enabling medical institutions to take care of “home care targets” through online or telephone diagnosis. Every home care target has a primary medical institution. The health care workers thereof and local bureaus regularly assess the subjects’ health conditions and provide necessary medical and transportation assistance.

Mayor Lu points out that, from April 22 until this morning, 14,042 citizens have applied for the Home Health Care Plan. The City has accepted 12,156 applications and processed payments for 40,056 health care visits (on-site, online or via telephone). About 1,102 home care targets received the “online diagnosis” services; and 565 home care targets had their medicine delivered to their homes. The city government will continue to evaluate the City’s medical capacity to take care of every confirmed case. For those in home quarantine, home isolation or self-health management, the city government also organized 4,493 medical transfer services and 284 telephone diagnosis services. These approaches have made citizens feel more secure.

May 12 is International Nurses Day. Mayor Lu says that health care workers are our good friends as they have been taking care of the patients and providing them with medical treatment day and night during the pandemic period. As the medical capacity of medical institutions has almost reached the limit, it is the Mayor’s aspiration that we will not only thank and support health care workers, but also respect them in order to endure this difficult time together.

Director of Health Bureau Tseng Tzu-chan expresses that Taichung City has 5 new confirmed cases with moderate to severe symptoms. Two of them are in a negative pressure isolation ward; two are in a general ward; and one is in an intensive care unit (ICU). All of them are continuously receiving medical treatment and health care. Besides, with respect to the 25-year-old female patient who has been confirmed as suffering from moderate to severe coronavirus symptoms yesterday, Director Tseng explains that she has received an intubation treatment due to an asthma attack and was confirmed PCR positive. After the hospital’s proactive treatment, the patient is in better condition and no longer requires a ventilator. Due to suspected co-infection with mycoplasma pneumonia, she is still undergoing medical treatment but is in a stable condition.