Press Release of the Offshore Control Division of the
Executive Yuan's SARS Epidemic Prevention, Control and Relief
Committee
Today (May 12), the Offshore Control Division again conducted a live video conference linking up with the CKS International Airport and the Kaohsiung International Airport. During the session, all relevant governmental agencies gave their latest reports on the implementation of SARS prevention measures, and continued tracking related matters that ought to be done and have been under surveillance. The Civil Aeronautics Administration has reported an insufficient stock of surgical masks for inflight use. In response to this, the Offshore Control Division stressed that passengers entering Taiwan on flights from areas with a concentration of SARS cases are the front line of border control over SARS, and therefore priority should be given to the supply of masks to these passengers. The Offshore Control Division has already asked the Civil Aeronautics Administration to coordinate with the Industrial Development Bureau under the Ministry of Economic Affairs to ensure that international flights can be provided with a sufficient number of masks.
Since border control measures were implemented on April 28, all travelers entering/returning to Taiwan from an area with a concentration of SARS cases must undergo a 10-day compulsory quarantine. So far, 77 passengers bound for Taiwan from the SARS-infected area were caught in the attempt of circumventing this regulation. Instead of coming straight to Taiwan, they first went to Japan, Korea, or other third countries. Upon immigration, they concealed the fact that they had originally come from the Mainland, and failed to truthfully fill in their Questionnaires for SARS Prevention in an attempt to avoid compulsory home quarantine measures. The Offshore Control Division's quarantine division declared that these passengers have violated the "Communicable Disease Prevention Act," as well as the "Interim Regulations of SARS Control," and charges will be pressed against them by the competent health authorities. In addition, these passengers may also have violated Article 192 of the Criminal Law, and regarding the possibility of pressing criminal charges against them, the Offshore Control Division has coordinated with the judicial departments to investigate the matter according to the law. The Offshore Control Division stressed that it has already submitted a proposal to impose a fine not exceeding NT$ 300,000 on all future violators. In addition, violators are to be placed under compulsory centralized quarantine. The population must not try to circumvent quarantine measures, but should fully comply with all related government regulations.
In another development, the WHO on May 8 declared Metro Manila (Philippines) an "area with recent local transmission of SARS." In response to that, the Offshore Control Division has put the entire Philippines on Taiwan's quarantine list, meaning that the same visa and border control regulations now apply for travelers from the Republic of the Philippines as for passengers from other "areas with a concentration of SARS cases." Since May 9, anybody entering Taiwan from the Philippines is to be placed under compulsory quarantine. The Offshore Control Division will coordinate with the Council of Labor Affairs and the competent health authorities to ensure enforced supervision and monitoring of home quarantine cases, and a proper implementation of quarantine measures for travelers entering Taiwan from the Philippines.
There has been a newspaper report claiming that enforcement of prevention and control measures at airports is lax, including failure to perform body temperature checks and enforce the use of surgical masks, and insufficient efforts to inform passengers returning from China about correct customs and quarantine procedures. To this the Offshore Control Division had to say that the media report in question reflects only the personal opinion of one single passenger, who was the sole source for that piece of news. The report was not based on any on-the-sport coverage/investigation, and gave a very inaccurate picture of the real SARS prevention efforts at airports. The Offshore Control Division further explained that at the CKS International Airport, infrared ray sensors have already replaced ear thermometers, which is why passengers may not be aware of their temperature being taken. Also, airlines request all passengers on flights from Hong Kong and Macao to wear masks during the entire length of the flight. Passengers who meet conditions for home quarantine are served quarantine notices by the Center for Disease Control as soon as they enter Taiwan. These quarantine notices state very clearly that the passengers are required to report within the next 24 hours to their respective health office, village/borough warden, or workplace administrator. Passengers are also given a brochure titled "Type B Home Quarantine Procedures: What You Need To Know," so there is no need to search for information on the Internet. Article 17 of the "Interim Regulations of SARS Control" stipulates that "news media failing to verify their sources and publishing false reports shall immediately correct their statements when informed by the competent authority." In accordance with this regulation, the Offshore Control Division firmly requests the newspaper in question to immediately publish a statement of correction.