Taiwan yesterday reported its first confirmed case of a new type of coronavirus — a 55-year-old Taiwanese woman who arrived on Monday from China.
The woman, who works in the Chinese city of Wuhan, where the virus was first discovered, reported to quarantine officials at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport that she had a fever, the epidemic response command center said.
The center was established on Monday to contain the spread of the new coronavirus.
Photo: Lin Hui-chin, Taipei Times
The woman was immediately placed in quarantine and later tested positive for the pneumonia-like virus, dubbed the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), the center said.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said that travelers, regardless of nationality, who have recently been to China and are found to have “pneumonia-like symptoms,” would now be subject to compulsory quarantine.
The CDC said that while those with the coronavirus might not develop a fever, the measure in practice would still depend on monitoring the temperatures of inbound travelers when they arrive at airports and seaports across the nation.
Travelers with a fever would then be asked about their travel history and be checked by a doctor if the situation warrants, CDC Deputy Director-General Chuang Jen-hsiang (莊人祥) said.
Those found to have pneumonia-like symptoms, such as shortness of breath and low blood-oxygen levels, and who have been in China in the previous 14 days, would be placed in compulsory quarantine, he said, adding that additional medical workers have been posted at the nation’s international gateways to support the measure.
Previously, people were only quarantined if they developed pneumonia-like symptoms and had been to Wuhan.
Those who have the aforementioned symptoms and have been to China, but failed to report their conditions to health authorities could face a fine of up to NT$150,000 for breaching the Communicable Disease Control Act (傳染病防治法), the CDC said.
The CDC will soon have brochures distributed on flights from China, Hong Kong and Macau to alert inbound travelers about the seriousness of the disease, Chuang said.
The brochures are to remind travelers to monitor their health and report to the authorities if they develop pneumonia-like symptoms, or face a fine.
The CDC reiterated its appeal to Taiwanese traveling in China to wear surgical masks and avoid contact with animals, animal markets and patients with acute respiratory syndrome.
People who develop a fever, acute cough or other respiratory symptoms within 14 days after returning from China should contact the CDC via its 1922 hotline, or 0800-001-922, wear a surgical mask and seek immediate medical attention.
WAITING GAME: The US has so far only offered a ‘best rate tariff,’ which officials assume is about 15 percent, the same as Japan, a person familiar with the matter said Taiwan and the US have completed “technical consultations” regarding tariffs and a finalized rate is expected to be released soon, Executive Yuan spokeswoman Michelle Lee (李慧芝) told a news conference yesterday, as a 90-day pause on US President Donald Trump’s “reciprocal” tariffs is set to expire today. The two countries have reached a “certain degree of consensus” on issues such as tariffs, nontariff trade barriers, trade facilitation, supply chain resilience and economic security, Lee said. They also discussed opportunities for cooperation, investment and procurement, she said. A joint statement is still being negotiated and would be released once the US government has made
NEW GEAR: On top of the new Tien Kung IV air defense missiles, the military is expected to place orders for a new combat vehicle next year for delivery in 2028 Mass production of Tien Kung IV (Sky Bow IV) missiles is expected to start next year, with plans to order 122 pods, the Ministry of National Defense’s (MND) latest list of regulated military material showed. The document said that the armed forces would obtain 46 pods of the air defense missiles next year and 76 pods the year after that. The Tien Kung IV is designed to intercept cruise missiles and ballistic missiles to an altitude of 70km, compared with the 60km maximum altitude achieved by the Missile Segment Enhancement variant of PAC-3 systems. A defense source said yesterday that the number of
Taiwanese exports to the US are to be subject to a 20 percent tariff starting on Thursday next week, according to an executive order signed by US President Donald Trump yesterday. The 20 percent levy was the same as the tariffs imposed on Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh by Trump. It was higher than the tariffs imposed on Japan, South Korea and the EU (15 percent), as well as those on the Philippines (19 percent). A Taiwan official with knowledge of the matter said it is a "phased" tariff rate, and negotiations would continue. "Once negotiations conclude, Taiwan will obtain a better
FLOOD RECOVERY: “Post-Typhoon Danas reconstruction special act” is expected to be approved on Thursday, the premier said, adding the flood control in affected areas would be prioritized About 200cm of rainfall fell in parts of southern Taiwan from Monday last week to 9am yesterday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Kaohsiung’s Taoyuan District (桃源) saw total rainfall of 2,205mm, while Pingtung County’s Sandimen Township (三地門) had 2,060.5mm and Tainan’s Nanhua District (南化) 1,833mm, according to CWA data. Meanwhile, Alishan (阿里山) in Chiayi County saw 1,688mm of accumulated rain and Yunlin County’s Caoling (草嶺) had 1,025mm. The Pingtung County Government said that 831 local residents have been pre-emptively evacuated from mountainous areas. A total of 576 are staying with relatives in low-lying areas, while the other 255 are in shelters. CWA forecaster
RSS