TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC, 疾管署) reported on Tuesday (June 17) that Taiwan's COVID-19 situation has slightly declined but remains in a plateau phase, with 38 new deaths last week marking the year's highest weekly toll. From June 8 to 14, 66,951 outpatient and emergency visits occurred, a 6.2% decrease from the previous week, although severe cases remain prevalent.
Among the new fatalities, a man in his 20s died in early June from encephalitis and kidney failure about two weeks after falling ill, making him the youngest COVID-19 death this year. CDC physician Lin Yung-ching (林詠青) noted that the man had no underlying health conditions and had received three COVID-19 vaccine doses in 2022 but had not received the latest JN.1 vaccine. In late May, he experienced intermittent fever and vomiting, was hospitalized after several medical visits, and eventually suffered multiple organ failure.
CDC spokesperson Lo Yi-chun (羅一鈞) stated that the pandemic's trend aligns with predictions, estimating the epidemic phase to last until July 27 to Aug. 2, after which it will likely subside. The CDC reported that 2.353 million JN.1 vaccine doses have been administered nationwide, with an overall vaccination rate of 9.48%. Among those 65 and older, the first-dose rate is 19.56%, and the second-dose rate is 1.98%.
The CDC urges high-risk individuals, especially those 65 and older who have received one JN.1 vaccine dose and have waited two months, to receive their second dose promptly.