A Taiwanese man forced into taking a temperature check upon his arrival from Macau has been fined for the second time in less than a week, local news reports said yesterday.
Li You-cheng (李有誠) says the introduction of temperature checks to combat the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) crisis is an abuse of human rights and detrimental to the nation's image.
He was fined NT$60,000 (US$1,725) last week after refusing to undergo such a test on arrival at CKS International Airport.
He traveled back to Macau over the weekend but on his return to Taipei on Monday Li again refused to have his temperature taken.
Television pictures showed a nurse scrambling to take his temperature -- which turned out to be normal -- after he was subdued by several police officers. He was later fined another NT$60,000.
Everyone arriving in the country have been required to submit to temperature checks at airports since last week as part of efforts to check the spread of SARS.
Beginning at noon today, all outbound passengers will also be required to submit to temperature checks at airports.
There are 28 probable cases of SARS in the country.
In related news, a popular local soft drink called Sars (沙士) has raised a few eyebrows following the outbreak of the disease.
Sars, a shortened version of its major ingredient, sarsaparilla, has been the flagship drink of the Hey Song Co since the 1940s.
It tastes like root beer and is popular because many people believe sarsaparilla lowers body temperatures and prevent sore throats or other ailments.
Still, some consumers feel a little uneasy that the soft drink bears the same name as the syndrome, said Chou Shiao-ping (周小萍), Hey Song's spokeswoman.
"There might be some association with the illness," she said.
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