Taipei, May 30 (CNA) Food tasting will return to supermarkets and night markets starting June 7, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said Saturday, as Taiwan recorded its 48th consecutive day with no local new coronavirus COVID-19 infections.

At a daily press briefing, CECC spokesman Chuang Jen-hsiang said restrictions on free food sampling at supermarkets and night markets will be lifted on June 7, but noted that people must still keep their hands clean and refrain from coughing close to food.

The lifting of the ban is part of the CECC's efforts to further loosen restrictions implemented to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

The CECC said in a statement on May 26 that if there are no new cases by June 7 that would be 56 straight days without a domestically transmitted infection, or four times the disease's 14-day incubation period, which would justify lifting the restrictions.

Meanwhile, patrons will also be allowed to consume food at cinemas, baseball games, and arts and cultural events from June 7, without the need to implement social distancing between seats, the CECC said.

Even though Taiwan recorded its 48th straight day of zero local infections on Saturday, the pandemic is still very serious around the world, said Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung, who also heads the CECC.

"Forty-eight straight days with no local infections is good news for Taiwan, but the pandemic is still very serious around the world where it passed 6 million infections today," Chen said, adding that strict border controls will remain in place.

To date, Taiwan has recorded 442 cases of the disease, with seven deaths, the CECC has reported.