OFFICIALS UNDER PRESSURE: Chen Shih-chung urged those eligible for home isolation and quarantine subsidies not to rush to apply, saying that they have two years to do so

Taipei Times
Date: Mar 25, 2020
By: Lee I-chia / Staff reporter

The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) yesterday announced 20 new imported cases of COVID-19 and one local case, bringing the total in Taiwan to 216, with one of the new cases being an American who was transiting in Taiwan, but felt ill at the airport and was hospitalized.

Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中), who is also head of the center, said the new cases were eight people tested at airports upon their return to the nation, nine people who were undergoing quarantine at home, one person who was under home isolation, and two people who tested positive after seeking medical treatment.

The most recent case is a French national who is studying at National Tsing Hua University, the CECC said in an update at 7:20pm yesterday.

Taxi drivers in protective outfits stand ready in Pingtung County yesterday. The county government has launched a taxi delivery service for people who are required to undergo quarantine.

Photo courtesy of the Pingtung County Government via CNA

Most of the cases were detected by the center’s airport screening and home quarantine monitoring mechanisms, while the two people who sought treatment were a married couple who had returned from the US on Wednesday last week before the center implemented a home quarantine order on all travelers entering Taiwan the next day, Chen said.    [FULL  STORY]