Press Release of the Offshore Control Division of the Executive Yuan's SARS Epidemic Management Committee
The Offshore Control Division of the Executive Yuan's SARS Epidemic Management Committee held its sixth meeting this morning (Wednesday, May 3) to discuss problems encountered in the implementation of offshore control measures before making a decision. Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) and Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) staff were at the same time debriefed about the implementation of respective special program. After a number of intense discussions in previous meetings, problems and difficulties encountered have gradually been clarified and dealt with efficiently, and the implementation of control measures has now been smooth. The Offshore Control Division Director and MAC Chairman Tsai Ing-wen declared that apart from continuing enhanced control measures at airport and seaport immigration, one focus of future efforts will be to strengthen control of smuggling and illegal immigrants, two issues that could create risks in Taiwan's SARS prevention efforts. In addition, another focus will be to guarantee a two-way flow between the information of health authorities and data of incoming passengers under home quarantine. This would allow proper implementation of the relevant follow-up home quarantine regulations.
An MOEA delegate delivered a report on the implementation of compulsory quarantine measures in enterprises and businesses, saying that the MOEA has already relayed relevant SARS prevention regulations to local administration units such as industry and commerce departments, industrial park service centers, export processing zones, major trade and industry associations, and the three major foreign chambers of commerce and ask them to inform business leaders/employers about the relevant quarantine measures and the cooperation required of them. According to a survey, business and industry have expressed understanding and support for the government's policies, and are willing to cooperate. Only in a small number of firms have cases of quarantined persons, and most firms have asked these employees to undergo quarantine at home. Firms have also taken other precautionary measures, such as reducing the number of business trips to epidemic areas, and putting a temporary halt on the return of employees currently in the Mainland.
With the SARS epidemic in the Mainland reaching a peak of the spread, Taiwan's government is showing great concern about the SARS prevention efforts made by Taiwan businesses in the Mainland. In this session, the SEF delegate delivered a report on the current situation in the Mainland, saying that according to its sources Taiwan businesses all over China are operating in accordance with the government's ¡§Special SARS Quarantine Measures,¡¨ and are actively implementing concrete preventive measures. These measures include in detail: protection of staff, protection of firm premises, protection of operations, restrictions on employees' movements and, if necessary, quarantine measures, and protection through Taiwan businesspeople associations.
The SEF pointed out that Taiwan businessmen everywhere have currently reduced cross-strait travel. In Mainland regions affected most heavily by the SARS epidemic, such as Canton Province and the Beijing area, or in places with a concentration of Taiwan businesses, such as Shanghai and Kunshan, medium and large Taiwan enterprises have already adopted a number of measures to avoid infection with the SARS virus, including: checking body temperature of staff, asking employees to wear surgical masks, isolation/quarantine surveillance for floating staff, strengthening employees' immune system, etc. Companies are also offering rewards for those reporting cases or suspected cases of SARS, and they are constantly monitoring their staff's health situation. All this is done to prevent an unnoticed spreading of the virus that could threaten business operations, and in the hope that by setting up a network of prevention and quarantine measures the epidemic can be contained quickly. Because of the relatively underdeveloped medical resources in the Mainland, it may become necessary for Taiwan's government to send medical teams to the Mainland to provide technical backup and counseling. It was decided that whenever such a situation arises, the Offshore Control Division will assess the situation to see what concrete measures may be necessary.
Another issue was the mass quarantine center at Yangmei's Hungwu Military Camp that began operating yesterday and has currently admitted 23 patients. For ROC nationals, compulsory home quarantine or workplace quarantine measures enforced by the employer should principally be the methods of choice, and only where this is difficult or unfeasible should they be put under quarantine at the Hungwu Military Camp. Incoming passengers who have been served quarantine notices are assembled at the customs exit, where a bus organized by the Aviation Police Bureau will be waiting. Aviation police officers then escort quarantine subjects to their respective destinations, while local health authorities and police departments are managing safety and home quarantine measures. The Aviation Police Bureau's command and service center has set up a 24-hour telephone hotline: (03) 398-2241.
There have recently been media reports about one suspected SARS case at the Silicon Integrated Systems Corporation (SIS), which is located in the Hsinchu Science-Based Industrial Park. The Park administration investigated the matter and found the reports baseless, that is, there is currently no suspected case of SARS at the Hsinchu Science-Based Industrial Park. Although so far no SARS cases have been verified in the Hsinchu area, the Hsinchu Science-Based Industrial Park Administration has adopted a number of measures to deal with the threat of a SARS epidemic, including: providing information and education on SARS, and setting up an anti-epidemic service for reporting suspected cases and counseling. In addition, the Park premises, including staff dormitories and other public areas, are being sterilized, and employees and visitors must undergo a body temperature check before entering company premises and manufacturing sites. Those found to have abnormal temperature are not allowed to enter, but reported to the health authorities for further diagnosis and treatment.
A delegate from the Council of Agriculture's Fisheries Administration reported that as of May 2, no suspected SARS cases had been reported on any seagoing fishing vessels. A total of 640 fishing boat crew had their body temperature checked upon entering ports, and all had been found to have normal temperature. A total of 39 fishing vessels had been ordered stationary for sterilization. No Mainland crew members were found to be running a fever. The Fisheries Administration will continue disinfection measures on all operating fishing vessels and harbor facilities to ensure a hygienic working environment and protect the health of ship crews.
◆SARS Prevention Measures Taken by Taiwan Businesses in the Mainland