ANKARA

Taiwan on Friday reported 65,011 new COVID-19 cases, pushing the total caseload to 635,879, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said, as the island nation battles its most serious wave of outbreaks.

Of the new cases, 64,972 are domestic and 39 imported, the health agency said in a statement, adding that 41 related deaths were also confirmed during the past 24 hours, taking the total fatality count to 968.

Taiwan closed itself off in early 2020, and imposed strict contact tracing, social restrictions and hygiene measures until vaccinations began.

Cases have been on the upswing since late March, but in April authorities ended the “zero-COVID” policy, in sharp contrast with China, which considers Taiwan its breakaway province.

The revised strategy, dubbed “new Taiwanese model,” is aimed at living with the virus and resuming normal lives.

Close contacts of infected patients are to be only quarantined for three days instead of the earlier 10, while mandatory quarantine for all arrivals has also been reduced from 10 to just seven days.

Outdoor mask mandate, however, has not been lifted yet. Authorities have suggested to end the rule by July after the peak of COVID-19 cases.

Nearly 80% of Taiwan’s 24 million residents are fully vaccinated.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid​​​​​​​