Due to the surging COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced a nationwide extension of the Level 3 epidemic alert until June 14. The Council of Indigenous Peoples (CIP) therefore urges citizens to comply with the Level 3 alert pandemic prevention guidelines set forth by the CECC and work together to combat the pandemic by avoiding any unnecessary traveling, events, or gatherings. Citizens are also asked to refrain from making unnecessary visits to Indigenous communities, so as to protect Indigenous areas.

In order to ensure the implementation of pandemic preventive measures in Indigenous areas, the CIP held a special COVID-19 response task force meeting today (May 26) and issued written requests to local governments, asking them to observe the Communicable Disease Control Act and report to the CECC in writing if traffic control is deemed necessary at certain areas in Indigenous areas under their jurisdiction. For Indigenous communities that have set up COVID checkpoints, local governments were also asked to provide professional guidance and pandemic prevention resources as needed. Furthermore, in order to facilitate the procurement of pandemic prevention resources by township/city/district offices of Indigenous areas, the CIP issued official letters authorizing 55 township/city/district offices of Indigenous areas to reallocate budgets for CIP-funded infrastructure maintenance projects towards pandemic efforts.