Hou Yu-ih cautiously faces the micro-lockdown easing; New Taipei's catering industry still does not open for dine-in

(Taiwan TB News Network / Reporter Sun Yao-chang) The Central Epidemic Command Center announced on the 8th that a micro-lockdown easing would be carried out. New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih announced on the 9th that regarding the implementation aspects of the guidelines announced by the central government, after actual discussion by the city government team, operators and management units in many places find it very difficult to comply. During the Level 3 alert period, New Taipei City's catering industry still does not open for dine-in and uniformly adopts takeout.

Hou Yu-ih held another special meeting this morning on whether to ease the lockdown measures. Hou Yu-ih believes that New Taipei City is a severely affected area, with invisible community transmission chains still present, and that the vaccine coverage rate across Taiwan is also insufficient. Furthermore, the Huannan Market has not yet cleared all unidentified sources of infection, and the epidemic situation still requires a more cautious and strict attitude. New Taipei City respects the practices of other counties and cities, but in the face of the epidemic, New Taipei still must face it seriously.

Hou Yu-ih said that regarding the implementation aspects of the guidelines announced by the central government, after actual discussion by the city government team, operators and management units in many places find it very difficult to comply. There will be discrepancies in implementation and comparisons will arise, but there needs to be a consistent standard in implementation. If it cannot be achieved in implementation, it should not be opened.

The reasons for not opening include (1) Invisible transmission chains still exist: New Taipei is a severely affected area, and the Taipei-New Taipei area still has invisible community transmission chains. The Huannan Market has not been fully cleared, and unidentified sources of infection have not been fully handled. The epidemic situation must be viewed with greater caution and strictness. We respect the practices of other counties and cities, but in the face of the epidemic, New Taipei still must face it seriously. (2) The central government's guidelines are difficult to achieve in implementation: The guidelines announced by the central government, after actual discussion, are found to be impossible for operators and management units in many places to comply with, which will create comparisons, but there needs to be a consistent standard in implementation. If it cannot be achieved in implementation, it will not be opened.

(3) Vaccine coverage across Taiwan is insufficient: At present, vaccine administration coverage is still insufficient. New Taipei is currently still a severely affected area of the epidemic zone, and we must respond cautiously, proceed step by step, and absolutely must not act rashly. Therefore, we will adopt a phased and tiered approach, adjusting strategies according to the situation. Operators affected during this period have truly had it hard, but we still hope everyone can endure these difficult times together. In the face of the epidemic, everyone should continue to maintain low levels of activity, so that after the epidemic becomes more stable, everyone can return to a new form of safe living.

(4) Restaurants do not open for dine-in: New Taipei City maintains the Level 3 alert as the standard, with restrictions as the principle and relaxations as the exception, prioritizing outdoor settings. Apart from museums, arts and cultural parks, and open scenic areas, which may operate with reduced capacity and open outdoor areas, everything else remains closed.

Hou Yu-ih said, "Everyone has worked hard. New Taipei still prioritizes epidemic prevention. Please endure these difficult times together. We will open in phases and tiers, and conduct rolling reviews at all times."
            New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih faces the micro-lockdown easing with a serious and cautious attitude, announcing that New Taipei's catering industry still does not open for dine-in. (Provided by New Taipei City Government)