CECC spokesman Chuang Jen-hsiang. CNA photo Dec. 31, 2020
Taipei, Dec. 31 (CNA) Taiwan recorded two new imported cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, from the United Kingdom and India, respectively, bringing the total number in the country to 799, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).
The individuals both presented proof of a negative COVID-19 test that had been issued within 72 hours of boarding their flights, as required, but one of them became ill during quarantine, while the other tested positive at the end of his quarantine period, the CECC said in a statement.
In the case of the patient from the U.K., he is a British national in his 70s who arrived in Taiwan on Dec. 18 to visit his family and developed a dry cough and shortness of breath on Dec. 26, the CECC said.
CNA file photo
Taipei, Dec. 31 (CNA) The Ministry of Education (MOE) on Thursday issued a directive for Taiwan schools to stop accepting entry permit applications by international students, for at least one month, with immediate effect.
The suspension applies to all foreign students, including those from Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, as well as recipients of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Taiwan Scholarship, according to the MOE.
The decision was made after the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) on Wednesday announced more stringent border and quarantine restrictions in response to a new variant of the COVID-19 coronavirus that was first detected in the United Kingdom.
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CECC says low risk of community infection
CALMING FEARS: Centers for Disease Control Deputy Director-General Chuang Jen-hsiang said people who had contact with the first local case in months tested negative
By Shelley Shan / Staff reporter
Taiwan is not at high risk of community infections, despite the emergence of its first domestic case of COVID-19 in eight months and a virus variant from the UK last month, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said yesterday.
On New Year’s Eve, the center reported two new imported cases of COVID-19.
Case No. 799 is a Briton in his 70s who entered Taiwan on Dec. 18 to visit relatives, the center said.
Bureau aims to extend subsidy for quarantine hotels
By Shelley Shan / Staff reporter
More funding has been requested from the Executive Yuan to subsidize hoteliers who accept guests ordered to complete a 14-day quarantine upon their return to Taiwan from overseas, the Tourism Bureau said yesterday.
Quarantine hotels make available more than 16,000 rooms to people mandated to undergo a 14-day quarantine before they can re-enter local communities, the bureau said, adding that the average occupancy rate is 50 percent.
As the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced on Wednesday that starting on Jan. 15, people entering Taiwan would mainly be placed in government quarantine facilities and quarantine hotels, the bureau said that it has asked local governments to ensure that they have enough rooms to meet demand.