Taiwan has confirmed 12 imported COVID cases and one new local infection in the Novotel airport hotel cluster. This local infection is Case #1,174, a male hotel employee who had worked closely with two other diagnosed staff.

Chuang Jen-hsiang
CECC spokesman
Due to the nature of their work, these three people had to have frequent meetings and be in constant communication, giving reports to each other. So we think that the new case was infected at work, through contact with Cases #1,120 and #1,129.

Authorities say no contact tracing is required for the new case, because he had been isolated in a quarantine center prior to diagnosis. With this latest infection, the total case count of the China Airlines/Novotel outbreak is up to 29. In related news, more people will soon be able to receive government-subsidized COVID vaccines. Starting next Monday, eligibility will be expanded to members of the armed forces and people aged 65 and above.