President Tsai and a senior U.S. official called for Taiwan’s inclusion in the WHO as the nation confirmed its first coronavirus case on Tuesday.

The Diplomat
Date: January 24, 2020
By: Nick Aspinwall\

Taiwan has confirmed its first Wuhan coronavirus case and closed its borders to all residents of Wuhan amid concerns that the country’s exclusion from the World Health Organization (WHO) is keeping it from receiving timely updates on the deadly epidemic.

Chinese authorities imposed a lockdown on Wuhan and two neighboring cities on Thursday, effectively barring residents from leaving the cities. All direct flights between Taiwan and Wuhan were canceled as of Thursday, with Taiwanese carriers China Airlines and Mandarin Airlines announcing cancellations through February 27.

Taiwan’s Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said on Tuesday a 55-year-old woman working in Wuhan tested positive for the coronavirus after arriving at Taoyuan International Airport on Monday and telling quarantine officials she was suffering from a fever.

A CDC spokesperson said on Wednesday that the woman has experienced slight shortness of breath while walking but is in stable condition.    [FULL  STORY]