Taiwan has implemented more stringent inspection measures for inbound flights from Wuhan, China, following an outbreak of pneumonia in the city, according to the Centers for Disease Control under the Ministry of Health and Welfare Dec. 31, 2019.
All such flights will be boarded by officials and inspected before passengers are allowed to disembark, the CDC said, adding that border control measures have been strengthened to include fever screening for arriving passengers and full-scale examinations for suspected cases.
CDC Director-General Chou Jih-haw said the added measures are routine for suspected outbreaks. If passengers returning from China experience fever or acute respiratory symptoms within 10 days of arrival, they should speak to the CDC on its toll-free 1922 hotline and seek medical treatment as soon as possible, he added.
According to the World Health Organization’s epidemic update, 27 pneumonia cases have been confirmed in the Wuhan outbreak, including seven with severe complications leading to hospitalization and quarantine.
The CDC reminded the public not to spread rumors regarding the outbreak’s cause. Based on the Communicable Disease Control Act, those who spread misinformation about diseases or epidemics can be fined up to NT$3 million (US$99,648), while those who spread misinformation leading to public unrest can be detained for three days or fined up to NT$30,000 under the Social Order Maintenance Act. (RAY-E)
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