Press Release of the Offshore Control Division of the Executive Yuan's SARS Epidemic Prevention, Control and Relief Committee
Today (May 15), the Offshore Control Division again linked up with the CKS International Airport and the Kaohsiung International Airport for a video conference. All related governmental agencies gave their reports on the current implementation of SARS prevention measures to allow a further strengthening of quarantine procedures.
The Offshore Control Division declared that in order to strengthen Taiwan's first line of defense against SARS, and prevent the disease from being repeatedly imported from abroad, it has mobilized the relevant governmental agencies to ensure a sufficient supply of masks on international flights from places such as Hong Kong, Macao, and Singapore. The government will also give priority to the distribution of protective clothing and other protection equipment to outlying islands such as Kinmen and Matsu.
Another item on the agenda was the procedures for those who need to re-exit the country after completion of their home quarantine period. The Offshore Control Division called on all home quarantine subjects to report to their respective competent supervising authority within the legally prescribed time limit, and to strictly comply with all relevant regulations, to avoid affecting their rights of re-exiting the country. When a trip abroad becomes necessary, people must carry their officially stamped "Type B Home Quarantine Notice for SARS Prevention" or "Special Compulsory Quarantine Notice for SARS Prevention" with them to prove they have properly completed quarantine procedures. Only then will they be allowed to leave the country. The Offshore Control Division stressed that this procedure was mainly to make sure that quarantine subjects have properly completed quarantine measures to prevent loopholes in SARS prevention efforts caused by people leaving the country without having reported to the quarantine authorities, so that quarantine and control measures taken by the government can be implemented to the full.
To provide a larger incentive for people to report stowaways to the authorities, and increase the efficiency of the ongoing crackdown, the Offshore Control Division is currently mulling plans to increase the reward afforded for providing information about stowaways to NT$ 3,000. This measure would be adopted by the relevant governmental agencies once it has been ratified by the competent authority.
In other developments, carrying out its "SARS Cleanup Mission," the Coast Guard Administration (CGA) yesterday (May 14) seized the Kaohsiung-based fishing boat Kuo Yu Hao in the waters around the Penghu (Pescadores) island of Huayu. The boat was found to be smuggling fish. The four boat crew were examined by the Penghu County Health Bureau medical staff and found to be free of SARS symptoms. They have since been served Compulsory Quarantine Notices, and are undergoing quarantine aboard their ship, which is currently anchored in the Makung fishing harbor. Meanwhile, the CGA continues to enforce strict control over these ships' crew. In a large-scale crackdown in the waters ranging from Tunghsaio to Penghu, the CGA drove out a total of 118 vessels. Four Mainland fishing vessels (total crew of 30) were detained and will stay put pending further investigation.