Two Taipei restaurants have been cleared to resume operations after samples obtained from them showed no trace of norovirus, a virus found in some people who fell ill after dining at the two eateries early last month, the Taipei Department of Health announced on Monday.
Eighteen samples obtained on April 5 from Truewow (初瓦) and Xiang La Spicy Hot Pot (嚮辣和牛麻辣鍋) — which are next to each other in the Taipei MRT Ximen mall — tested negative for norovirus and bacteria that are common causes of food poisoning, the department said in a statement.
These included eight environmental samples and seven swabs collected from the hands of staff members.
Photo: Taipei Times
Three water samples tested negative for traces of norovirus, but failed to meet hygiene standards, the department said, adding that subsequent water tests passed inspections after the restaurants were told to address the issue.
Both restaurants have been closed since April 6.
After a follow-up inspection, the department allowed the two restaurants to reopen.
Wowprime Corp (王品集團), the company that runs the restaurants, had implemented measures to improve hygiene at the two branches, such as conducting its own water quality inspections and disinfecting the premises, officials said.
From April 5 to 12, 155 people who had eaten at the two restaurants sought medical attention after displaying symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea, the department said in a previous statement.
Out of 28 samples collected from people who had fallen ill, six had tested positive for norovirus, it said.
As for whether the incident constituted a food poisoning outbreak, a final decision would be made following a comprehensive investigation, the department added.
Taipei and New Taipei City government officials are aiming to have the first phase of the Wanhua-Jungho-Shulin Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line completed and opened by 2027, following the arrival of the first train set yesterday. The 22km-long Light Green Line would connect four densely populated districts in Taipei and New Taipei City: Wanhua (萬華), Jhonghe (中和), Tucheng (土城) and Shulin (樹林). The first phase of the project would connect Wanhua and Jhonghe districts, with Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and Chukuang (莒光) being the terminal stations. The two municipalities jointly hosted a ceremony for the first train to be used
MILITARY AID: Taiwan has received a first batch of US long-range tactical missiles ahead of schedule, with a second shipment expected to be delivered by 2026 The US’ early delivery of long-range tactical ballistic missiles to Taiwan last month carries political and strategic significance, a military source said yesterday. According to the Ministry of National Defense’s budget report, the batch of military hardware from the US, including 11 sets of M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and 64 MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile Systems, had been scheduled to be delivered to Taiwan between the end of this year and the beginning of next year. However, the first batch arrived last month, earlier than scheduled, with the second batch —18 sets of HIMARS, 20 MGM-140 missiles and 864 M30
Representative to the US Alexander Yui delivered a letter from the government to US president-elect Donald Trump during a meeting with a former Trump administration official, CNN reported yesterday. Yui on Thursday met with former US national security adviser Robert O’Brien over a private lunch in Salt Lake City, Utah, with US Representative Chris Stewart, the Web site of the US cable news channel reported, citing three sources familiar with the matter. “During that lunch the letter was passed along, and then shared with Trump, two of the sources said,” CNN said. O’Brien declined to comment on the lunch, as did the Taipei
A woman who allegedly attacked a high-school student with a utility knife, injuring his face, on a Taipei metro train late on Friday has been transferred to prosecutors, police said yesterday. The incident occurred near MRT Xinpu Station at about 10:17pm on a Bannan Line train headed toward Dingpu, New Taipei City police said. Before police arrived at the station to arrest the suspect, a woman surnamed Wang (王) who is in her early 40s, she had already been subdued by four male passengers, one of whom was an off-duty Taipei police officer, police said. The student, 17, who sustained a cut about
RSS