Entertainment Worker at Taiwanese Venue Tests Positive for COVID-19... Health Authorities on Alert

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] In Taiwan, known as a model country for COVID-19 prevention, an emergency situation has arisen after a female employee at a famous entertainment establishment tested positive for COVID-19.

Due to the nature of entertainment venues serving an unspecified number of customers, it is difficult to trace the infection route through epidemiological investigations.

According to local media such as Taiwan Liberty Times on the 9th, among the confirmed cases announced by health authorities the previous day, one was identified as a female employee at a well-known entertainment venue in the northern region. Local media reported, citing entertainment venue officials, that the woman is suspected to have gone to work while symptomatic.

The health authorities confirmed a total of three cases the previous day: two people including a woman in her 60s who had traveled abroad, and one woman in her 30s infected within Taiwan. This brings the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Taiwan to 379, with five deaths.

According to the authorities, the woman in her 30s infected within Taiwan was initially described as a housewife with a simple lifestyle who mostly stayed at home or nearby. However, it was confirmed that she gave false statements during the epidemiological investigation by health authorities.

Taiwanese media reported that during the investigation, the woman stated that she usually spent a lot of time at home and occasionally shopped at malls or supermarkets.

After it became known that the woman was an employee at an entertainment venue, the Taipei City Department of Health launched an investigation into the venue the previous night.

Since the entertainment venue was completely unaware of the female employee’s positive diagnosis, the authorities’ investigation caused a commotion as customers who had visited the venue hurriedly left in surprise.

The investigation also revealed that there is a professional company managing employees at about ten such venues, including the one in question, causing these establishments to be on high alert.

Meanwhile, a man in his 50s who tested positive for COVID-19 and was fined 300,000 Taiwan dollars (approximately 12 million KRW) for visiting a club without wearing a mask the day after returning from Wuhan, China?the origin of COVID-19?has reportedly been receiving treatment up to now.

Taiwanese media reported that the man did not disclose his symptoms upon arrival at Kaohsiung Airport and has been hospitalized in a negative pressure isolation ward since January 23, receiving treatment for 78 days to date.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.