According to the Executive Yuan's press release, the pandemic came as a very serious shock, but the government has always been able to initiate advance preparations to curb the spread of COVID-19.
(Source: Overseas Community Affairs Council)
Over the past month, the government has provided relief to 9.5 million people in total: In terms of cash disbursements, approximately NT$70 billion (US$2.3 billion) has been distributed to nearly 3.8 million people in need; these subsidies have also kept more than 30,000 businesses from going under and saved 340,000 workers from losing jobs. In loan assistance, lenders have approved NT$760 billion (US$25.3 billion) worth of loans to help 700,000 individuals and businesses through hard times. As for financial burden relief, assistance measures have helped more than 5 million individuals, households, and business owners.
Moreover, more economic stimulus efforts will soon be carried out. Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) announced on Tuesday (June 2) that the stimulus vouchers aimed to boost Taiwan’s economy amid fallout from the coronavirus (COVID-19) will become available July 1 and redeemable starting July 15.
Residents including Taiwan's nationals and foreign spouses will be able to select any of the four types of vouchers that suit them — hard copies, credit card payments, contactless smartcards, or mobile payments. The vouchers will be valid until Dec. 31, 2020.
Those favoring hard copies can “purchase” vouchers with a total value of NT$3,000 (US$100) at the cost of NT$1,000. They will come in groups of five NT$200 coupons and four NT$500 coupons. The vouchers can be pre-ordered at four major convenience store chains in Taiwan from July 1 and distributed starting July 15 via National Health Insurance (NHI) card or NHI app, the same way Taiwan's ID-based mask rationing system works. People can also visit the 1,300 post offices from July 15 to buy the stimulus vouchers directly.
The stimulus voucher program is expected to cost the country NT$50 billion, including printing the vouchers and related administrative costs, according to the source.
The final version of the program will be announced by Premier Su Tseng-chang on June 2 before it is rolled out in time for the school summer vacation which starts July 15.
Source: Executive Yuan
