Infected man returns to Taiwan with forged COVID report: CECC head

ROC Central News Agency

05/04/2021 07:26 PM

Taipei, May 4 (CNA) A Taiwanese businessman infected with COVID-19 is likely to face a heavy penalty for returning to Taiwan from overseas with a forged negative COVID-19 test statement, Health Minister Chen Shih-chung (陳時中) said Tuesday.

The man, surnamed Shen (沈), took the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test in Thailand, but instead of waiting for a valid test report, he returned to Taiwan on Sunday with a false result, Chen said at a Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) press briefing.

"Such action is not commendable. We will probe this and he will face a harsh penalty," said Chen, who heads the CECC.

Shen was detected to have a fever upon his arrival in Taiwan and was immediately taken to hospital, Chen said, adding that the man was one of six imported cases confirmed on Tuesday.

The CECC will also investigate if Shen is guilty of knowingly concealing his disease, Chen said.

According to the CECC, it received a notice from the health department of Chachoengsao, a town in central Thailand, on Saturday about a Taiwanese businessman who tested positive for COVID-19.

The health department was unable to contact the man. After efforts were made to trace his whereabouts, the man was found that he had flown back to Taiwan on EVA Airways flight BR212, Chen said.

A total of 49 people are known to have come into contact with Shen, including 28 passengers who sat within two rows of him on the plane and they were instructed to carry out self-isolation, the minister said.

The rest of the contacts were flight crew who were also told to monitor their health, Chen added.

(By Chang Ming-hsuan, Chen Chieh-ling, Chiang Hui-chun and Teng Pei-ju)

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