<span style="color: #222222;">Taiwan raised its corona virus level today in the capital, Taipei, and the city around it, bringing curbs for a period of two weeks that will shut many venues and restrict gatherings in the wake of 180 new domestic infections.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The new rules will not mean offices, schools or restaurants have to close, but will cause the shutdown of cinemas and other entertainment spots, while limiting family get-togethers to five people indoors and 10 outdoors.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">For the first time, masks will have to be worn outdoors.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Taipei's government has already ordered bars, nightclubs and similar venues to shut.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je urged people to stay home as much as possible, adding that schools should teach online.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">President Tsai Ing-wen's spokesman said that, it would reduce the number of unnecessary meetings or public events.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The new restrictions do not apply to the chip-manufacturing hub of Hsinchu, and are unlikely to affect exports of semiconductors, a global shortage of which has shut some car factories.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Taiwan has millions of vaccine doses on order from Moderna Inc and AstraZeneca Plc, though only a small number have arrived due to global shortages.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Since the pandemic began, Taiwan has reported fewer than 1,500 cases among a population of about 24 million, most of them imported from abroad, but a recent rise in community transmissions has spooked residents.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The island has never gone into a full lockdown and its people are used to life carrying on near normal, despite the pandemic ranging in many other parts of the world.</span><br />''  <br />