TUESDAY June 8, 2021: 'OUTBREAK Taiwan' by award winning Taiwan based ZUMA Photographer Daniel Ceng Shou-Yi: After almost 18 months of nearly unblemished success keeping the coronavirus pandemic at bay, including the world's longest streak of case-free days, Taiwan is now in the grip of its first major COVID-19 surge. Taiwan was among the first places to ban foreign visitors almost as soon as China reported the emergence of the virus, and the tough border restrictions still remain in place. Locally however, the population started to become complacent, as did its government. Hospitals stopped aggressively testing people for Covid. Taiwan's outbreak is now proving to be a test of whether a society relatively untouched by COVID-19 can effectively put to use the lessons the rest of the world learned the hard way. The 750,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses the United States has promised Taiwan will be flown in soon, President Tsai Ing-wen said on Monday, as measures to tackle an outbreak that has not yet stabilised on the island were extended. Welcome to 'OUTBREAK Taiwan'
© zReportage.com Story of the Week #789: TUESDAY June 8, 2021: 'OUTBREAK Taiwan' by award winning Taiwan based ZUMA Photographer Daniel Ceng Shou-Yi: After almost 18 months of nearly unblemished success keeping the coronavirus pandemic at bay, including the world's longest streak of case-free days, Taiwan is now in the grip of its first major COVID-19 surge. Taiwan was among the first places to ban foreign visitors almost as soon as China reported the emergence of the virus, and the tough border restrictions still remain in place. Locally however, the population started to become complacent, as did its government. Hospitals stopped aggressively testing people for Covid. Taiwan's outbreak is now proving to be a test of whether a society relatively untouched by COVID-19 can effectively put to use the lessons the rest of the world learned the hard way. The 750,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses the United States has promised Taiwan will be flown in soon, President Tsai Ing-wen said on Monday, as measures to tackle an outbreak that has not yet stabilised on the island were extended. Welcome to 'OUTBREAK Taiwan'

A commuter wearing mask sits near Taiwan soldiers tasked with disinfecting public areas and transport seen on an underground train in Taipei, following a dramatic surge of domestic cases of Covid-19.
© Daniel Ceng Shou-Yi/ZUMA Wire

People wear face masks on the underground as gathering restrictions have been tightened in the face of community transmissions following a surge of Covid-19 cases reported with no clear source of infection. With immediate effect, outdoor activities of 500 people and indoor activities of 100 or more should be canceled whilst eating and drinking are banned on public transport.
© Daniel Ceng Shou-YiZUMA Wire

Patients seen resting on sickbeds at a temporary outdoor ward outside a hospital, following a dramatic surge of domestic Covid-19 cases. Hospitals in the capital Taipei are facing a shortage of isolation wards and intensive care unit (ICU) staff.
© Daniel Ceng Shou-Yi/ZUMA Wire

Soldiers in full PPE gear disinfect public areas of Wanhua District in Taipei, a zone that has been affected by the community transmission of COVID-19, as domestic cases and deaths have risen. This area is historically known for its tea houses and adult entertainment venues and as one of Taipei's two red light districts.
© Daniel Ceng Shou-Yi/ZUMA Wire

A lady receives a rapid COVID-19 test at a testing centre in New Taipei, following a surge in domestic cases and deaths. As more COVID-19 cases and deaths have been reported, the government has been facing a shortage of isolation wards, as non-essential businesses have been suspended.
© Daniel Ceng Shou-Yi/ZUMA Wire

A view of an exhibition center which has been converted into a temporary mass vaccination centre, following a serious local outbreak with an increasing number of domestic infections and deaths related to the Covid-19 disease.
© Daniel Ceng Shou-Yi/ZUMA Wire

A lady wearing a face mask walks past a closed arcade machine store in Taipei City Mall, a famous tourist hotspot, as people are urged to stay home following a surge of locally acquired cases of Covid-19.
© Daniel Ceng Shou-Yi/ZUMA Wire

Military officers disinfecting public areas and transport sit beside commuters on an underground train in Taipei, following a dramatic surge of domestic cases that jeopardize medical systems in Taiwan.
© Daniel Ceng Shou-Yi/ZUMA Wire

A special quarantine bus driver puts on his PPE at a fire station, where buses and taxis that carried quarantined persons are spread with disinfectant, before delivering citizens who have completed their quarantine, following a surge of domestic COVID-19 cases.
© Daniel Ceng Shou-Yi/ZUMA Wire

Taiwan President TSAI ING-WEN speaks about the recent locally acquired cases of COVID-19 and urges every one to get vaccinated. The 750,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses the United States has promised Taiwan will be flown in soon, President Tsai Ing-wen said on June 8.
© Daniel Ceng Shou-Yi/ZUMA Wire

School pupils wearing face masks walk past a Taiwan flag, as Taiwan experiences a surge in Covid-19 cases. The capital Taipei and New Taipei cities have forced non essential businesses such cinemas and book stores to close and rolled out compulsory mask wearing in outdoor areas whilst suspending large activities and encouraging people to receive Covid-19 vaccinations.
© Daniel Ceng Shou-Yi/ZUMA Wire

A student with a face mask seen standing next to a notice of compulsory mask wearing, as Taiwan have tightened restrictions on large gatherings and and events after a surge in Covid-19 cases.
© Daniel Ceng Shou-Yi/ZUMA Wire

Military officers in protective suits walk on a cross-walk enroute to disinfect public areas and transport in Taipei, following a dramatic surge of domestic cases of Covid-19.
© Daniel Ceng Shou-Yi/ZUMA Wire

People register online for real name identification before entering a shopping mall, as Taiwan have tightened restrictions on large gatherings and and events after a surge in cases of Covid-19.
© Daniel Ceng Shou-Yi/ZUMA Wire

Commuters wear face masks at a tourist hotspot where there has been fewer visitors, as Taiwan has tightened restrictions on large gatherings and and events after recording a surge in cases of Covid-19.
© Daniel Ceng Shou-Yi/ZUMA Wire

Taiwanese people stockpile daily necessities and food including rice, diapers, instant noodles, canned food and others, after the government said it will raising the COVID alert level to nearly lockdown, following a surge of new domestic cases.
© Daniel Ceng Shou-Yi/ZUMA Wire

Taiwanese people stockpile daily necessities and food including rice, diapers, instant noodles, canned food and others, after the government said it will raising the COVID alert level to nearly lockdown, following a surge in cases.
© Daniel Ceng Shou-Yi/ZUMA Wire

Medical workers in protective suits seen at a temporary outdoor ward with oxygen cylinders outside a hospital, following a surge of Covid-19 cases. Hospitals in the capital Taipei are facing a shortages, while the number of cases is increasing amid inadequate vaccines supply.
© Daniel Ceng Shou-Yi/ZUMA Wire

A patient using an oxygen cylinder at a temporary outdoor ward at a hospital in Taipei, as hospitals in the capital face a shortage of isolation wards and ICU workers amid rising number of infections.
© Daniel Ceng Shou-Yi/ZUMA Wire

A Taiwanese solder in full PPE gear passes a commuter on an escalator as military troops disinfect public areas and transport in Taipei.
© Daniel Ceng Shou-Yi/ZUMA Wire

Taiwanese soldiers ride a subway train while disinfecting public areas and transport in Taipei, following a serious outbreak with an increasing number of domestic infections and deaths related to the COVID-19 disease.
© Daniel Ceng Shou-Yi/ZUMA Wire