With continued surge in COVID-19 cases, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) of Taiwan has announced a ‘new Taiwanese model’, a three-staged procedure, as part of which, individuals who have received three vaccination shots can use rapid testing instead of visiting a healthcare facility for PCR testing while they undergo home isolation. This will help the nation contain the spread of the virus while balancing the economy and public health, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

Ayshi Ganguly, Medical Devices Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Along with substituting PCR with rapid tests for fully vaccinated and boosted individuals, Taiwan is also easing lockdown restrictions. With these measures in place, the nation aims to shift from zero-COVID commitment towards gradual cohabitation with the virus while ensuring that it does not spread.”

GlobalData’s report, COVID-19 Tests Market Size (Value, Volume, ASP) by Segments, Share, Trend and SWOT Analysis, Regulatory and Reimbursement Landscape, Procedures, and Forecast, 2020-2030, reveals that the number of PCR tests conducted across Taiwan have decreased by approximately 45% between 2021 and 2022 and is expected to further decrease in the forecast period.

The ‘new Taiwanese model’ includes scheduling a telemedicine or videoconference session with a physician to validate rapid test results, following home isolation rules if the test shows positive, followed by the issue of a quarantine notice by local health department. This will allow healthcare resources focus on emergency and high-risk cases while moderately affected and asymptomatic individuals can avail treatment while in home isolation.

Ganguly concludes: “Taiwan is no longer a poster child for zero-COVID. If the new protocols are successfully implemented, it would become a role model for methodical return to normalcy without imposing serious lockdowns yet again.”