Taiwan's parliament approved on Monday an extra T$420 billion ($15.20 billion) in stimulus spending to help the economy deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, as the island curbs business activity to counter a spike in domestic infections.

Early and effective prevention steps, including largely closing its borders, had succeeded in shielding Taiwan from the worst of the pandemic.

But cases have surged in recent weeks, prompting the government to limit personal gatherings and shut entertainment venues while it tries to speed up its vaccination programme.

The new money is in addition to previously announced stimulus spending worth T$420 billion, and the funding will run until June 30 of next year.

The central bank is also running a separate T$400 billion scheme to provide preferential loans to small and medium-sized business.