More people are in self-isolation than ever, amid a new record high for COVID cases. Local governments are giving away care packages, which are available from district offices, to help folks who are at home alone. But what if you don''t have family or local friends to go get the package for you? Well, in Taoyuan, city council hopefuls will fetch the package and bring it to your door. We caught up with the delivery team to see how it works.

People line up in front of a district office to collect care packages. The head of Zhuangjing Borough is wheeling away a cart full of packages for his borough residents. It looks a bit tough, so city council candidates are on hand to help out. It’s all hands on deck as COVID cases jump.

This image, posted on Facebook, advertises the care package service. Anyone who is self-isolating after a positive COVID test is eligible for a package, and if they don’t have friends or family to pick it up, these city council candidates will get on it.

Hsu Chia-jui
Taoyuan City council candidate
There are even people isolating in Longtan District, so we go over there to take it to them.

Council candidates Hsu Chia-jui, Lee Tsung-hao, and Huang Chiung-hui have banded together to cover northern Taoyuan. They can easily deliver dozens of packages in a single day. They first visit the individual’s home to pick up their identity documents, then head to the district office to pick up the care package and finally take it back to its recipient. The meticulous service is a great way for them to canvass ahead of the elections.

Huang Chiung-hui
Taoyuan City council candidate
Since we’re offering a service to the public, we need to find ways to solve people’s problems as fast and efficiently as possible.

Council candidates are doing whatever it takes to support the victims of COVID. CECC chief Chen Shih-chung commented on the validity of the scheme.

Chen Shih-chung
CECC
I’m not saying that political figures will commit fraud in delivering these packages. But, when you ask a politician to fetch your packages, there may be middlemen, or others who are not public figures, who try to commit fraud. So I would urge the public to be careful and to check people’s identities.

Individuals are free to delegate package collection to anyone they choose, but officials warn that the choice should be made carefully.