The Centers for Disease Control (hereafter referred to as the CDC) announced today (the 4th) that the domestic COVID-19 situation continues to rise and is in a pandemic phase, urging the public not to be complacent, to practice self‑protection measures, and to wash hands frequently; when entering medical care facilities, using public transport, or going to crowded indoor venues, wear a mask voluntarily; if fever or respiratory symptoms appear, it is recommended to rest at home as much as possible, avoid unnecessary outings, and remember to wear a mask when going out; those who have not been vaccinated should get vaccinated as soon as possible; additionally, individuals with risk factors for severe disease who develop suspected symptoms should seek medical care promptly so that physicians can diagnose early and prescribe antiviral medication, reducing the risk of severe complications or death after infection.
According to CDC monitoring data, the domestic COVID-19 situation is rising. In week 30 (July 26–August 1), there were 18,990 COVID-19 outpatient and emergency visits, an increase of 74.8% compared with the previous week (July 19–25); in the previous week (July 28–August 3) there were 62 new domestic severe cases and 3 domestic deaths. Since October 2025, a total of 265 domestic cases of COVID-19 with severe complications have been recorded, including 28 deaths. Severe cases were predominantly among those aged 65 and over (74.0%) and those with chronic disease histories (85.3%); 89.1% had not received this season’s COVID-19 vaccine. In the past four weeks, the domestic cases were mainly the PQ.16.1.1 variant. The global positivity rate is on an upward trend, with the US and Europe slightly rising from their lows, while Southeast Asia and the West Pacific are in a plateau phase. The epidemics in China, the United States, and the United Kingdom continue to rise; Hong Kong, Japan, and Thailand saw weekly declines. Recently, the globally circulating variants are mainly NB.1.8.1, XFG, and JN.1.
The CDC noted that as of today (August 2, 2026), the cumulative COVID-19 vaccinations this season total about 1.772 million doses, with vaccination rates among those aged 65 and over at 21.12% for the first dose and 0.78% for the second dose. The domestic COVID-19 vaccine stock remains at about 165,000 doses, with 80,550 doses allocated to each county and city for public vaccination on July 30 of this year, and an additional approximately 45,000 doses expected to be distributed on August 6 according to local demand. The public who need vaccination are reminded that the expanded vaccination program has been extended until September 28 of this year; please take the opportunity to get vaccinated during this period. If individuals experience COVID‑related symptoms such as sore throat, cough, nasal congestion, runny nose, fever, fatigue, headache, or muscle aches, they can first use a home rapid test for self‑screening and seek medical care promptly, or go directly to a clinic where physicians can use medical rapid tests; on holidays, they may also visit the Sunday and public holiday urgent care centers (UCC) for evaluation, rapid testing, and prescription of antiviral medication.
The CDC reminds that frequent travel opportunities during the summer vacation increase the risk of virus transmission, urging the public not to take it lightly and to consistently practice frequent hand washing, mask wearing, vaccination, and other personal protection measures. For information on COVID‑19 vaccination sites, contracted public oral antiviral medication facilities, and the latest epidemic prevention policies, you can visit the CDC’s global website (https://www.cdc.gov.tw) "COVID-19 Prevention Zone", or call the toll‑free epidemic prevention hotline 1922 (or 0800-001922) for inquiries. Additional information on home COVID‑19 rapid test kits can be found at the FDA’s "Home COVID‑19 Test Kit Supply Information Zone" (https://reurl.cc/XxWbbM), or you can inquire at nearby pharmacies, convenience stores, and other sales channels.
Source: Centers for Disease Control
Data compiled: Infection Control Office
