Taiwan To Increase COVID-19 Testing

Taiwan is to increase its testing regime for the COVID-19 virus.

The latest move, announced by the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) on Wednesday, will now include those working in the medical professions showing symptoms of coronavirus infection.

The move comes less than a week after President Tsai addressed the nation regarding the battle to halt the spread of COVID-19 in Taiwan.

In a regular press conference at the CECC, Taiwan’s Deputy Health Minister Hsueh Jui-yuan stated that medical and care professionals with fevers or recognised breathing difficulties will be subject to to testing with immediate effect.

Previously Taiwan only tested individuals showing flu symptoms, those with overseas travel records in recent weeks and months, or those coming into direct contact with confirmed patients.

In the two months since the virus first hit headlines around the world, Hsueh’s statement essentially confirms routine testing of medical professionals has not been the norm.

Those in the medical industry tested will require two confirmed negative tests for the virus, and a consent form from a doctor before returning to work. There will be no requirement to complete any period of quarantine once two tests have been carried out.

The measures were introduced following the recent case of a young nurse in the north of the country starting to show symptoms on March 12th, before being prescribed medicine four days later. Only on the 20th did she visit a hospital, before being confirmed as a carrier on the 22nd.

To date, according to the figures released on the main CDC website, 27,532 people have been tested with 235 proving positive, and two having died from the virus.

Updates are usually made available on the site late afternoon Taiwan time.