Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung. Photo courtesy of the CECC
Taipei, Jan. 27 (CNA) A total of 3,482 people linked to a cluster of COVID-19 cases at Taoyuan General Hospital are currently in quarantine, and more tests will be conducted among the medical staff in the coming weeks, Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) officials said Wednesday.
The 3,482 individuals in quarantine, an increase from 3,262 on Tuesday, include contacts of confirmed COVID-19 cases, hospital employees, patients who were discharged from the hospital earlier this month, and their close contacts.
They will all be tested for COVID-19 before their quarantine ends and will be required to follow self-health management protocols for seven days after, said Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中), who heads the CECC.
MOTC mulls food ban on trains during Lunar New Year holiday
01/27/2021 06:36 PM
At Taipei Main Station. CNA photo Jan. 27, 2021
Taipei, Jan. 27 (CNA) The Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) said Wednesday it is considering whether to impose a ban on eating in Taiwan Railways Administrations and Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) trains during the Feb. 10-16 Lunar New Year holiday.
The ministry reached the conclusion after convening a COVID-19 response meeting earlier in the day in the wake of an escalation of the pandemic in the country, as concerns were raised that an anticipated traffic spike could increase the risk of infection.
Taoyuan General Hospital. CNA file photo
Taipei, Jan. 27 (CNA) The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) on Wednesday announced a precautionary ban on inpatient visits at hospitals in Taipei, New Taipei and Taoyuan in northern Taiwan until Feb. 9.
Health Minister Chen Shih-chung (陳時中), who heads the CECC, made the announcement at a press briefing on the COVID-19 outbreak in Taiwan, saying the ban will go into effect immediately.
The new restriction was introduced in the wake of a COVID-19 cluster infection that started at Taoyuan General Hospital on Jan. 12 and has since resulted in 15 domestically transmitted COVID-19 cases.
Since then the health authorities have spared no effort to stop the cluster infection from spiraling out of control.
Hospital visits banned in three cities
RULES TIGHTENED: There are three exceptions to the ban on visiting patients, including a waiver on the relatives of people who are to undergo surgery or invasive treatment
By Lee I-chia / Staff reporter
People are banned from visiting patients in hospitals in Taipei, New Taipei City and Taoyuan until Feb. 9, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced yesterday, as it reported three imported cases of COVID-19.
Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中), who heads the center, said that in response to a COVID-19 cluster infection at Taoyuan General Hospital, the center was tightening access and personnel controls at hospitals in the three cities, effective immediately.