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CROSS-STRAIT FLIGHTS: Standard health checks for PRC tourists

Chinese tourists arriving yesterday underwent the same standard health monitoring as other international passengers, authorities said.

At Taipei Songshan Airport and Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, all passengers arriving on the first day of cross-strait charter flights passed by thermal scanners used to detect fevers — a standard precaution for all international travelers at the country’s airports.

Those passengers found to have a fever are normally examined further and their itinerary in Taiwan may be noted by health authorities. They are required to fill in a form for follow-up purposes.

In addition, any passenger who doesn’t feel well upon arriving can voluntarily fill out a form to inform health authorities.

None of the passengers on yesterday’s cross-strait flights had fevers, the Centers for Disease Control said yesterday.

CDC deputy director-general Shih Wen-yi (施文儀) said no cases of fever were detected and none of the passengers declared any health problems.

Shih said the CDC would not treat Chinese visitors differently from other visitors by requiring them to present physical examination certificates.

“No particular health situation has been reported by airport quarantine stations so far,” Shih said yesterday after the day’s cross-strait flights had all arrived.

Late last month, the head of Tainan County’s bureau of health drew sharp criticism after she said that places where Chinese tourists go should be disinfected after their visit.

Twu Shiing-jer (涂醒哲), a Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator and former head of the Department of Health, has accused the government of being unprepared for the arrival of Chinese tourists and has claimed the influx of visitors from across the Strait could expose the public to diseases such as hepatitis and tuberculosis.
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