Passengers making false health statements to face a maximum penalty of US$5,000

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/01/24
By: Sophia Yang, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Although the World Health Organization on Thursday (Jan. 23) decided not to declare the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak a global emergency, Taiwan's customs and quarantine authorities are on guard, announcing that passengers from China, Hong Kong, and Macau must complete a health form upon arrival.

Taiwan's Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced Thursday evening that residents of Wuhan will be denied entry and that passengers from elsewhere in China, Hong Kong, and Macau are required to issue a statement of health. Those exhibiting fever and other symptoms related to the mysterious pneumonia-causing virus will be dispatched to isolation wards in hospitals as part of the country's string of precautionary measures to combat its spread.

"Passengers who make false health statements will face a maximum penalty of NT$150,000 (US$5,000)," said Minister of Health and Welfare Dr. Chen Shih-chung (陳時中).

Chinese authorities have imposed a travel ban on residents of Wuhan and expanded it to nearby Huanggang on Thursday. Taiwan's health ministry has also ordered air carriers to deny residents passage from Wuhan to Taiwan. It is believed that the restriction will soon be extended to other Chinese cities on lockdown.    [FULL  STORY]