Health Minister Chen Shih-chung has been in the spotlight over the past week following a rapid surge in the number of local COVID-19 infections that has prompted the government to extend its COVID-19 alert level to Level 3 until June 14.

Over the past two weeks, Taiwan has reported over 5,000 local COVID-19 cases and more than 100 fatalities. As a result, there have been calls for replacing the former dentist who has been the head of the Central Epidemic Command Center for over a year. Some suggested that Vice President William Lai or Premier Su Tseng-chang should take charge instead. But the Presidential Office said the hype around replacing Chen is “an unnecessary political move” and that “political rhetoric is not conducive to disease prevention.”