Taiwan yesterday recorded one new imported case of COVID-19 involving an Indonesian who arrived in the nation last month to work on a fishing boat, the Central Epidemic Command Center said.
The Indonesian male, in his 20s, arrived in Taiwan on Dec. 31 with a negative test report, center spokesman Chuang Jen-hsiang (莊人祥) said at a news conference in Taipei.
He did not display any symptoms of the disease, Chuang said.
Photo: CNA
The man was tested again on Wednesday prior to his release from a 14-day mandatory quarantine and the result came back positive yesterday, he said.
Due to the high CT value of the test, which indicated the presence of only a small amount of viral genetic material and that the infection had likely run its course, the man was most likely infected a while ago in Indonesia, he added.
No contact tracing was required, as the man had not come in contact with anyone during his time in Taiwan, Chuang said.
Meanwhile, a new disease prevention regulation took effect yesterday whereby a home can only be used for quarantine if the person stays at the property on their own.
Previously people arriving in Taiwan could quarantine at a residence along with other people.
The tighter measure was introduced in response to the emergence of new more contagious variants of the virus that causes COVID-19, the center said, adding those found to have a breached the regulation would be fined NT$100,000 to NT$1 million (US$3,511 and US$35,112).
The center has also updated its disease prevention guidelines to provide more clarity on the rules ahead of the Lunar New Year, as Taiwanese living overseas in areas where COVID-19 is more prevalent prepare to return home for the holiday.
The latest update specifically addresses questions people might have about “self-health management,” a period of seven days during which arrivals to Taiwan must monitor their health after completing their mandatory 14-day quarantine.
People are required to wear a surgical mask at all times, take their temperature twice a day and avoid visits to public places, the center said.
They are also prohibited from partaking in group lunches or dinners, as such events require the removal of a mask while consuming food and beverages, it said.
They can visit supermarkets or convenience stories as long as they wear a mask throughout, but they should not visit crowded shopping malls where 1m social distancing is not possible, the center said.
Those who breach the regulations face up a fine of up to NT$300,000 under the Communicable Disease Control Act (傳染病防治法), it said.
Taiwan has recorded 843 cases of COVID-19, with 746 classified as imported. Of those cases, 741 have recovered, 95 remain in the hospital and seven have died, center data showed.
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