Foreigner fined NT$10,000 for violating quarantine in Taiwan

Foreign national fined for leaving room to have a smoke while under quarantine in Taiwan

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/02/13
By: Keoni Everington, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A foreign national has been fined after he left the room he was being quarantined in to take a smoke break.

Taipei City Department of Health Disease Control Division head Yu Tsan-hua (余燦華) said the foreign man had flown in from Guangdong, China, landing at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport on Feb. 3. Because a 14-day quarantine is in effect for travelers from China, he was required to stay in quarantine in his hotel room from Feb. 3 to Feb. 17, reported CNA.

However, on Monday (Feb. 10), the man stepped out of his room to have a smoke in the hotel stairwell. Although he had only left the room for six minutes, it was still considered to be a clear violation of the quarantine.

He was notified that he would be fined NT$10,000 (US$333) for violating Article 58 of the Communicable Disease Control Act (傳染病防治法), according to the report.
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