Central Epidemic Command Center plans social distancing regulations

ROC Central News Agency

03/29/2020 06:10 PM

Taipei, March 29 (CNA) The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) is considering formulating laws and regulations to enforce social distancing between people in public spaces to halt the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, the command center's chief said Sunday.

At a daily press conference, Health Minister Chen Shih-chung (陳時中), who also heads the CECC, said the command center is currently formulating the most efficient way to facilitate social distancing that will reduce the spread of the acute respiratory disease.

"We take social distancing seriously and we are currently in talks about how to implement it," he said.

However, to enforce such social distancing will involve many laws and regulations that will need to be throughly discussed to make sure it fits the purpose of virus prevention, Chen said.

Social distancing has been promoted by governments around the world to curb COVID-19 as infections rise across the globe, causing whole city lockdowns and cancellations of major sporting and cultural events.

As of Sunday, Taiwan had recorded 15 new infections, bringing the total to 298 since the coronavirus emerged in China at the end of last year, according to CECC statistics.

Globally, COVID-19 has infected 645,244 patients in 177 countries and regions, including 119,748 in the U.S., 92,472 in Italy, 81,439 in China, 72,248 in Spain and 48,582 in Germany, with 29,854 fatalities to date, according to the CECC.

(By William Yen)

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