Taiwan confirms 457 local coronavirus cases amid spike

Shanghai, China, May 23 (EFE).- Taiwanese authorities on Sunday registered 287 new Covid-19 infections from the last 24 hours and added another 170 cases that had been missing from official records in previous days.

Three fresh cases have been detected among international passengers arriving in Taiwan, the island’s Center for Disease Control said.

Taiwan is experiencing its highest spike in cases since mid-May

Health authorities have registered a total of 4,322 infections and 23 deaths since the pandemic began.

The capital Taipei and the New Taipei surrounding area are the worst-hit areas of Taiwan.

 Authorities in the capital region introduced tougher restrictions, including the closure of schools and public spaces such as museums, libraries, gyms and nightclubs

The government urged people to stay at home during the weekend in a bid to curb the spike.

Health minister Cheng Shih-chung ruled out raising the alert from level 3 to 4, in which partial lockdowns would be decreed.

Authorities have been working to tackle the delay in reporting fresh cases, he added.

Taiwan has managed to handle the pandemic thanks largely to restrictions imposed on international arrivals shortly after the Chinese city of Wuhan reported the first breakout. EFE