CECC chief opposes stepping up enforcement on undocumented caregivers

Focus Taiwan
Date: 02/29/2020
By: Chang Ming-hsuan, Yang Su-min and William Yen

Taipei, Feb. 29 (CNA) The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) chief said Saturday he is

opposed to launching a crackdown on undocumented migrant caregivers at a time when Taiwan's healthcare workers are already heavily burdened with efforts to contain the COVID-19 coronavirus.

"I disagree with the need to strengthen reporting of undocumented workers at present. For hospitals, it doesn't matter if one is a documented or undocumented migrant worker or a family member of a patient," Health Minister Chen Shih-chung (陳時中) said at a press conference.

"What matters to us is whether that person has any questionable travel history, or illnesses, and if he or she knows how to look after the patient," Chen said.

Although he "of course discourages" the hiring of undocumented caregivers, Chen said stepping up crackdown on these workers at this moment would only create a sudden shortage of people to look after patients and place more strain on healthcare professionals.   [FULL  STORY]