The Centers for Disease Control (hereafter referred to as CDC) said today (the 14th) that the domestic COVID-19 situation continues to heat up, and to protect one's own and others' health, the public is urged to take self‑initiated preventive measures and receive this season's COVID-19 vaccine; when entering medical care facilities or places with crowds where proper distancing cannot be maintained or ventilation is poor, it is recommended to wear a mask voluntarily; if fever or respiratory symptoms appear, it is advised to rest at home as much as possible and avoid unnecessary outings; additionally, people with risk factors for severe disease who develop suspected symptoms should seek medical attention promptly, can be assessed by a physician for rapid testing or use commercially available home rapid tests, and, after physician evaluation, antiviral medication can be prescribed for COVID-19 rapid‑test‑positive individuals with severe‑risk factors to reduce the risk of serious complications or death after infection.
The CDC noted that the domestic COVID-19 situation continues to rise. In week 27 (July 5‑July 11), there were a total of 2,811 COVID-19 outpatient and emergency visits, a 34.4% increase from the previous week; last week (July 7‑July 13) there were 17 newly reported domestic cases of COVID-19 with severe complications, with no new domestic deaths. Since October 2025, a total of 136 domestic COVID-19 severe-case reports have been recorded, including 18 deaths. Severe cases are predominantly among those aged 65 and over (72.1%) and individuals with chronic disease histories (83.8%), and 94.9% had not received this season's COVID-19 vaccine. The global recent COVID-19 positivity rate is rising; except for the Eastern Mediterranean region, which shows a declining trend, all other regions are on the rise. Neighboring countries/regions such as China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore are experiencing increasing outbreaks. Currently, the globally circulating variants are mainly NB.1.8.1, followed by JN.1 and XFG.
The CDC indicated that as of July 12, 2026 (Year 115), about 1.732 million doses of this season's COVID-19 vaccine have been administered, with vaccination rates among those aged 65 and over at 20.97% for the first dose and 0.51% for the second dose. International studies have found that receiving the current season's COVID-19 vaccine provides additional protection on top of existing immunity; vaccination with this season's COVID-19 vaccine can reduce the risk of COVID-19‑related emergency department or urgent care visits by approximately 48%–50% and lower the risk of hospitalization by about 53%–55%, demonstrating that COVID-19 vaccination effectively reduces disease severity and medical burden, and offers important protection against severe disease and hospitalization.
The CDC urges that domestic COVID-19 severe cases continue to be concentrated among those aged 65 and over and individuals with chronic disease histories, and most have not received this season's COVID-19 vaccine. High‑risk groups such as those aged 65 and over who have not yet been vaccinated, or who have received only the first dose with a six‑month interval, are urged to get vaccinated promptly to boost immune protection and reduce the risk of severe hospitalization. In addition, with the summer vacation travel peak increasing the risk of virus transmission, the publicly funded COVID-19 vaccine program has been expanded to provide vaccination for all individuals nationwide who are at least six months (180 days) old until July 31, 2026 (Year 115). The vaccine stock still contains about 456,000 doses (including 450,000 single‑dose Moderna vaccines and 6,000 Novavax doses). The public is reminded to take this opportunity to get vaccinated quickly to enhance immune protection.
The CDC emphasizes that the domestic stockpile of antiviral drugs is sufficient, with 155,000 courses of remdesivir, 113,000 courses of bevirimat, and 18,000 courses of Xocova still available. Local health bureaus of each county and city will continue to inventory usage at distribution points and manage allocations in real time. The public can also purchase home‑use rapid test kits at convenience stores or pharmacies that sell them for self‑testing, facilitating subsequent medical consultation. For information on vaccination sites, contracted institutions for publicly funded oral antivirals, and the latest prevention policies, please visit the CDC's global website (https://www.cdc.gov.tw) , or call the toll‑free COVID‑19 prevention hotline 1922 (or 0800-001922) for inquiries.
Source: CDC
Data compiled by: Infection Control Office
