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3 arrivals from Taiwan test positive for COVID-19 in Japan

ROC Central News Agency

10/14/2020 06:48 PM

Taipei, Oct. 14 (CNA) Three people tested positive for the COVID-19 virus upon arrival in Japan from Taiwan recently, although they were asymptomatic, officials from the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) told a news conference Wednesday following notification from Japan.

The CECC has already traced 44 people who came into contact with the three in Taiwan. Of them, 16 were deemed as close contacts and were tested for the COVID-19 virus and antibodies, with the results of 15 coming back negative, while the other one is slated to get tested Wednesday, Health Minister Chen Shih-chung (陳時中), who heads the CECC, said at the news briefing .

The three cases involve one woman and two men aged between 40 and 60. One of them lives in Taiwan and frequently travels between Taiwan and Japan, while the other two entered Taiwan July 23 and Aug. 25, respectively, to visit relatives and for work.

The three individuals tested positive for COVID-19 antibodies on Oct. 6, Oct. 7 and Oct. 10 upon arrival in Japan after departing from Taiwan. They were sent to designated quarantine facilities, according to Chen.

The three displayed no symptoms while in Taiwan or during their departure from the country. One of them had negative RT-PCR test results for COVID-19 Oct. 12 and Oct. 13 and was released from quarantine and another also tested negative for COVID-13 Oct. 13 but remained in quarantine pending further tests, along with the third individual.

Meanwhile, Taiwan reported no new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, maintaining the total number of confirmed cases at 530, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).

Among the confirmed cases, 438 are imported, 55 are categorized as local infections, 36 are part of a Navy cluster infection and one is derived from an unknown source.

So far, 491 COVID-19 patients in Taiwan have recovered, seven have died and the rest have already been released from quarantine, according to the CECC.

Also Wednesday, the CECC updated the list of countries from which business travelers can apply for shorter quarantine periods upon arrival.

After Sri Lanka confirmed 1,400 new COVID-19 cases in an apparel factory cluster earlier this month, the CECC dropped the country from the list of low-to-medium risk for the disease, a category that allowed business travelers from the country to apply to have their quarantine shortened from the normal 14 days to seven days, as long as they take a self-paid COVID-19 test on the seventh day after arrival.

In addition, the CECC announced Wednesday that it had changed Cambodia's classification from low to medium-low over concerns about a strong possibility of hidden sources of infection in the country, as Malaysia recently reported a new COVID-19 case from Cambodia.

The CECC's updated list published Wednesday classified 14 countries and regions as low risk -- New Zealand, Macao, Palau, Fiji, Brunei, Thailand, Mongolia, Bhutan, Laos, Nauru, East Timor, Mauritius, Vietnam and the Marshall Islands.

Business travelers from countries deemed to be low risk for COVID-19 can apply to have their quarantine period shortened by taking a self-paid COVID-19 test on the fifth day after their arrival.

It listed Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia and Cambodia as low-to-medium risk.

(By Chang Ming-hsuan and Evelyn Kao)

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