Taiwan is set to step up measures combating COVID-19 to better protect the health and well-being of its people during the upcoming Tomb Sweeping Festival, according to the Ministry of Transportation and Communications March 26.
The new measures come into effect April 1 and include temperature checks for passengers at the Taiwan High Speed Rail stations of Taipei, Taoyuan, Taichung, Tainan and Zuoying; 192 stops along the Taiwan Railways Administration train routes; and all airports, bus stations, highway service areas and post offices. Those who have two successive readings of over 37.5°C by forehead thermometer or 38°C by ear thermometer will be prohibited from entering these public facilities.
To facilitate screening, thermal imaging cameras will be installed at the five THSR stations and 22 TRA stops ahead of the four-day holiday, the ministry said. All stations on the THSR system will be disinfected every two hours, and only reserved seats will be available April 2-5 to prevent overcrowding, it added.
All THSR and TRA stations throughout the country are expected to have temperature checks in place from May 1.
According to the MOTC, the constraints are in line with Article 37 of the Communicable Disease Control Act, which gives the government the right to restrict or prohibit patients or suspected patients with communicable diseases from taking public transportation or entering specific places during epidemics.
Latest statistics from the CECC show 306 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Taiwan as of March 30, with five deaths. A total of 702,879 cases have been identified in 176 other countries and territories. (YCH-E)
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