Taiwan was a Covid success story. Now it's fighting its biggest outbreak

Taiwan has imposed new restrictions including limits on gatherings in its capital as it battles its biggest coronavirus outbreak since the start of the pandemic last year. The democratically-ruled island off the coast of China, widely praised as a success for its handling of Covid-19, reported 335 new cases Monday -- a record single-day rise. All but two are locally transmitted, the island's Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) reported.

According to the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control, 155 out of 158 cases in the capital, Taipei, were linked to hostess teahouses. Monday's numbers follow a previous record 207 new cases reported Sunday.
Taiwanese authorities imposed new social distancing measures Saturday, closing bars, clubs and gyms around the island, and restricting indoor gatherings in Taipei and the surrounding New Taipei City to five people. In Taipei, people must wear masks outdoors -- failure to do so is punishable by a fine of 3,000 to 15,000 New Taiwanese dollars ($107 to $535). 

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