News
6-point plan to stop Covid-19 community spread
Courtesy of ICRT
Health Minister Chen Shih-chung says the Central Epidemic Command Center will implement a six-point plan to curb the recent rise in domestic coronavirus cases.
According to Chen, under the new plan, contact tracing will be expanded and all persons identified as possibly infected will be tested and quarantined, with the goal of erecting a "firewall" to prevent further community transmission.
Testing and reporting of coronavirus results will be broadened and expedited to quickly identify new cases.
Epidemic prevention measures will be mandatory at all places of business, meaning people will be required to wear masks and register their contact information to facilitate quick contact tracing.
Hospitals and clinics will be asked to quickly refer anyone with suspicious symptoms to one of the 164 designated testing sites.
Special quarantine wards at specific hospitals will be opened within 10 days and more hotel rooms will be designated for quarantine purposes, with stricter enforcement of quarantine rules.
And the health minister says a review of applications by business travellers seeking shortened quarantine periods will also be tightened.
In related news, the New Taipei City government has closed eight types of non-essential businesses until 8 June, as it seeks to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
The non-essential businesses ordered closed including dance halls, internet cafes, KTV parlours, and video game arcades while a wide range of public facilities, such as libraries, gyms, sports and community centres are also being closed for one month.
City officials say businesses found to be violating the closure order will face fines of up to NT$15,000 in accordance with the Communicable Disease Control Act.
