Coronavirus News | Office of Global Mandarin Education

The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced one new confirmed case of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Taiwan. A total of 427 cases have been confirmed in Taiwan as of writing. The new confirmed case is an over 20-year-old navy on the Panshi fast combat support ship, which was part of the Dunmu Fleet. The CECC reported that 29 Navy members from the cluster infection on the fleet have been confirmed to have COVID-19 so far. Health agencies have identified 692 individuals as contacts of these confirmed cases of the Navy. Among 692 contacts, 446 are undergoing home isolation, and 246 are conducting self-health management.  (Data source:Taiwan Centers for Disease Control)  

The first frame for convenience store mask purchases will be 8am on Wednesday, April 22 to 8pm on Friday, April 24. People must bring their national health card and order through the self-service kiosks at the more than 10,000 Family Mart, 7-Eleven, OK Mart, and Hi-Life stores. They must also pay for them right away. The orders can be picked up at the convenience stores between April 30 and May 13. People can also choose to have them delivered and picked up at PT Marts or Simple Marts.  The masks can also be ordered online or bought through pharmacies or vending machines. Taiwan is rationing 9 masks per adult for every two weeks at NT$5 (US$16 cents) a mask. For the procedure of foreigners purchasing masks, please go to「Name-Based Mask Distribution System」 Foreigners who have Resident Certificate and NHI Card can also order masks via the Name-Based Mask Distribution System at either the eMask website; or the NHI App(全民健保行動快易通App, National Health Insurance Express App). Please visit  website at National Health Insurance Administration. (Data source:Radio Taiwan International、National Health Insurance Administration)

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan's Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) on Tuesday (April 21) announced that there were three new cases of Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19), bringing the total from the "Goodwill Fleet" to 27, and 425 overall. During his daily press conference on Tuesday afternoon, Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中) announced that there were three new cases, all from Taiwan's ill-fated "Goodwill Fleet" (敦睦, Dunmu). Chen said that the latest cases included two men and one woman, all three of whom tested negative, before being confirmed with the disease after the second test. Chen said that the latest cases ranged in age between 20 and 30 years. Chen confirmed that all three were trainees and sailors from the fleet. According to Chen, case No. 423 was a male trainee in his 20s. On March 30, he began to notice a loss of his sense of smell and taste. Because he stayed in the same cabin as case No. 396 and 397, he took the initiative to report to the local health department on April 18 and sought medical attention. The first test administered to the man came back negative, but after submitting to a second test on April 20, he was confirmed with the disease on April 21. Case No. 424 is a female sailor in her 30s. On April 5, she reported symptoms of dizziness, nasal congestion, headache, and abnormal olfactory function. However, her symptoms improved during the voyage. Upon her return, and after initially testing negative for the virus, she was placed in a quarantine center on April 18. After she underwent a second test on April 20, she tested positive for the disease on April 21. Case no. 425 was a male sailor in his 20s. On March 23, he began to experience a runny nose, fever, and headache. On April 18, he was taken to a quarantine center, where he was tested for the disease. His first test result came back negative, but his second test revealed on April 21 that he does indeed have the disease. The CECC said that out of the 27 sailors in the "Goodwill Fleet" cluster event, 349 contacts have been traced by the health department. Of those persons, 187 are undergoing home isolation, while 162 have implemented self-health management. The center will continue to trace the activities of the infected sailors in public places after disembarking from their ships and publish them on the internet. Chen reminded the public that if they found that they had been to the same places at the same time as the confirmed cases, they should undergo self-health management for the next 14 days. Those who feel unwell are advised to call the toll-free disease prevention hotline at 1922. The center also recommends that when seeking medical attention, patients should proactively inform doctors of their travel history and all persons they recently came into contact with. (Data source:Taiwan News)  

Public urged to be on alert if they have been to locations where infected sailors visited between April 15 and 18. TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Members of the public are being told to be on the alert for symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) if they have been to one of the 90 locations in 10 counties and cities in Taiwan where 24 confirmed cases from the Taiwanese Navy had been in mid-April. Over the weekend, 24 sailors from the "Fleet of Friendship" were confirmed to have contracted the coronavirus. Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) spokesperson Chuang Jen-hsiang (莊人祥) on Sunday (April 19) said that the government would send a text message that day to warn the public about where the 24 sailors spent over 15 minutes between April 15 and 18, reported CNA. The CECC estimates the sailors traveled to about 90 locations in 10 counties and cities across Taiwan during that period, including Keelung, New Taipei, Taipei, Taoyuan, Taichung, Yunlin, Chiayi, Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Pingtung. On Saturday (April 18), the CECC announced that three navy trainees had tested positive for COVID-19, forcing 700 fellow crew members to go into quarantine. On Sunday, the CECC reported 21 more navy personnel had contracted the virus. That same day, the CECC sent text messages to the relatives and friends of the first three sailors. It estimated that between 2,000 to 3,000 persons were contacted. Chuang said that later that evening, that the CECC would send out a text message notifying the public to beware of the spots where the 24 sailors had spent more than 15 minutes between April 15 and 18. Chuang said that the center would use cell phone signals to track down where the sailors had been and message those who had been at the same locations at the same time. The text message is a general reminder that people should carefully observe their own symptoms. If a person believes they are developing symptoms of the coronavirus, the CECC urges them to call 1922 or seek medication attention directly. The following are some of the locations that the sailors visited between April 15 and 18: Taipei Carrefour Sushi Express Taipei Railway Station Taipei MRT Beitou Station Taoyuan Eslite Bookstore Costco National Taiwan Sport University Taichung Wuri railway station Clinic in Qingshui District Cases resided in Qingshui District, Shaolu District, and Longjing District Yunlin Yunlin HSR station Chiayi Chiayi HSR station Chien Yen Hot Pot Restaurant on Chuiyang Road Keelung Kuo-kuang Motor Transport Keelung Station Kaohsiung Café del SOL Ruifeng Night Market E-Da Outlet Mall Carrefour Dingshan Costco Dashun Sihwei Badminton Courts Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Xiaogang Post Office Sweet Veggie Restaurant in Sanmin District Zuoying HSR Station Pingtung Ping Tung Sports Center Fitness Factory Global Mall (Data source:Taiwan News)  

Due to the impact that COVID-19 border control measures and flight bans have had on foreign visitors to Taiwan, MOFA announced an automatic 30-day duration of stay period extension on March 21, 2020. In consideration of increased travel restrictions worldwide, MOFA announces that all travelers who entered Taiwan on or before March 21, 2020, on a visitor visa, a landing visa, or through a visa-waiver program and who have not overstayed their legal stay period will now be granted a second automatic 30-day extension. No application is required. The total period of stay cannot exceed 180 days (The day after entry date will be counted as the first day of stay). These conditions are subject to change and may be adjusted as circumstances require. In addition, the National Immigration Agency (NIA) has announced the Expanded Overstayers Voluntary Departure Program. Foreign nationals who have overstayed their visas and turn themselves in from March 20 to June 30 are entitled to penalty relief measures: They will not be detained or receive an entry ban, and will be given only a minimum fine. For further information, please visit the NIA website at https://www.immigration.gov.tw/. (Date source:Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced that no additional cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) were confirmed in Taiwan on April 16. The CECC reported that 962 additional cases related to COVID-19 were reported on April 15. As of writing, a cumulative total of 50,703 cases have been reported among which COVID-19 has been ruled out in 47,407. Of these reported cases, infection with COVID-19 was laboratory-confirmed in 395 cases. Of 395 confirmed cases in Taiwan, 340 are imported and 55 are indigenous. Of the confirmed cases, there have been 6 deaths, and 155 patients have been released from isolation while the remainder remains hospitalized in isolation. (Data source:Taiwan Centers for Disease Control)