Taiwan reports two new imported COVID-19 cases from Indonesia

ROC Central News Agency

12/27/2020 04:12 PM

Taipei, Dec. 27 (CNA) Taiwan reported two new imported cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, both of which are Indonesian nationals employed to work as fishermen, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).

The two cases bring the total number of COVID-19 cases in Taiwan to 785, CECC spokesman Chuang Jen-hsiang (莊人祥) said at a press conference.

The two fishermen, one in his 20s and the other in his 30s, came to Taiwan on Dec. 10 with proof of negative COVID-19 test results issued within three days of their flight, and went into quarantine at a hotel upon arrival, Chuang said.

After they completed their quarantine, they were arranged to be tested on Dec. 25 by their labor brokers and their results came back positive on Sunday, Chuang said.

Both of them have been asymptomatic so far, he said, adding that 18 people with whom they were in contact with in Taiwan were deemed adequately protected and instructed to follow self-health management protocols for seven days.

Due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in Indonesia and credibility problems with the test results issued there, Taiwan has banned entry of Indonesian migrant workers since Dec. 4, although exceptions have been made for those hired to work on Taiwanese ships as fishermen.

Indonesian fishermen who entered Taiwan between Dec. 4-13 were instructed to follow the usual protocols, which meant they did not have to be collectively quarantined and could stay at hotels during the 14-day period, according to Chuang.

On. Dec. 14, quarantine requirements for the group were tightened, and Indonesian fishermen who arrived from that day on have been required to go into quarantine at government-designated centers upon arrival and receive a COVID-19 test before quarantine ends, Chuang said.

To date, Taiwan has recorded 785 cases of COVID-19, 690 of which have been classified as imported. Of the total, 653 have recovered, 125 are in the hospital and seven have died, according to CECC data.

CECC statistics as of Sunday show that COVID-19 has infected over 80 million people in 191 countries and regions, with more than 1.76 million fatalities.

(By Chiang Yi-ching)

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