2020/12/30 15:55 CECC head Chen Shih-chung. CECC head Chen Shih-chung. (CNA photo) TAIPEI (Taiwan News) In response to the discovery of Taiwan s first imported case of the new mutant coronavirus strain that emerged in the UK, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced that it will ban foreign arrivals, with a few exceptions, starting Jan. 1, 2021 A new strain of the virus, identified as B.1.1.7, has reared its head in the U.K. and been found to be up to 70 percent more transmissible than the original virus that came out of Wuhan, China, last year. On Wednesday, Health Minister and Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) head Chen Shih-chung (陳時中) said that a male passenger in his teens on the flight from London that arrived Sunday (Dec. 27), Case No. 792, has tested positive for the new strain of the virus.
The weekly COVID-19 press briefing. Photo courtesy of the CECC
Taipei, Dec. 30 (CNA) Taiwan has reported two new imported cases of COVID-19 infection, both migrant workers from the Philippines who have been asymptomatic since their arrivals on Dec. 15 and 16, respectively.
The latest cases bring the total number in the country to 797, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said on Wednesday.
According to the center, both Filipinas presented negative coronavirus reports issued three days before they boarded their flights and had been in 14-day mandatory quarantine at a government-designated center since their arrival.
The two Philippine nationals, who are both in their 20s, each received another test prior to completing their quarantine, the results of which came back positive on Wednesday, the center reported.
CNA photo Jan. 1, 2020
Taipei, Dec. 30 (CNA) The New Year s Day flag-raising ceremony in Taipei will be open only to government officials and invited guests, as a precaution, after a traveler who arrived in Taiwan recently was found to be infected with the new variant of the COVID-19 virus, the Presidential Office said Wednesday.
People who wish to view the annual flag-raising ceremony can do so via a live stream, starting at 5:10 a.m., on the Presidential Office s website and YouTube channel and on the Facebook pages of President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), Vice President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) and Presidential Office spokesman Xavier Chang (張惇涵), the office said.
By Press Association 2021
A family wearing face masks walks past a mobile clinic set up to test for Covid-19 in New Delhi, India
India has extended the suspension of flights to and from the United Kingdom until January 7 due to the spread of a coronavirus variant.
The resumption of flights after that date will be strictly regulated, civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri said.
India’s Health Ministry has confirmed 20 people who returned from the UK before the suspension have been found infected with the new variant.
Taiwan has announced its first confirmed case of the new variant.
(PA Graphics)