Taiwan New Covid Cases More Than Double In Three Days To Record 11,353

People wear face masks to protect against the spread of the coronavirus as they head to a temple to ... [+] pray in Taipei on April 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Taiwan, home to many of the world’s largest technology companies, reported 11,353 domestically transmitted cases of Covid-19 on Thursday, the highest daily total since the pandemic began and more than double the 5,108 local cases disclosed on Monday, according to the Central News Agency.

Of the 51,663 domestic cases recorded from Jan. 1 to April 27, only 0.3 percent were moderate or severe, however, CNA said. Others have displayed either mild symptoms or have been asymptomatic.

Authorities will sign a contract in the coming days to buy about 4 million Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines, CNA also reported. Nearly 60,000 COVID-19 rapid test kits were sold in two hours across as the government launched a rapid test kit rationing scheme on Thursday; heavy traffic caused the national health insurance system to temporarily crash, the agency said.

In contrast to Taiwan, mainland China has used lengthy, stringent lockdowns of infected or potentially exposed individuals. Much of Shanghai, a city of 26 million, has been locked down for weeks, stirring protests among locals and disrupting global supply chains. Beijing reported 50 cases today, up from 34 on Wednesday.

Taiwan has a population of more than 23 million, is home to the world’s 22^nd largest economy, and is a leading source of the world’s semiconductors. Taiwan businesses that rank on the Forbes Global 2000 list of the world's top publicly traded companies include Hon Hai Precision — the big supplier to Apple led by billionaire Terry Gou, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp., or TSMC, which makes computer chips for Intel. Others among Taiwan's numerous Apple suppliers include Pegatron, Lite-On Technology, Inventec, Catcher Technology, Largan Precision and Compeq Manufacturing.

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