Coronavirus Variant Found in Taiwan... "Infected by Confirmed Case Returning from the United States"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Even in Taiwan, known worldwide as a model country for COVID-19 prevention, health authorities are reportedly on high alert after the discovery of COVID-19 variant viruses.

According to Taiwanese media such as Apple Daily on the 22nd, Taiwan's health authorities announced that they detected variant viruses including 'L452R' and 'D614G', which have spread in Europe and the United States, in COVID-19 patients at Taoyuan Hospital under the Ministry of Health and Welfare. According to Taiwan's health authorities, five people, including a man in his 60s who returned from the United States at the end of last month and was confirmed positive in early this month during self-quarantine, as well as four medical staff, were infected with the variant virus.

This is the first time a variant virus has been found in Taiwan. Taiwanese media reported that the variant virus is related to a large-scale outbreak spreading in California, USA, since early this month. Chen Shih-chung, Minister of Taiwan's Ministry of Health and Welfare, explained regarding the possibility of locking down the Taoyuan area where the variant virus was found, "It can be implemented when there are more than 100 mainland infections on average per day over a two-week period, and when the majority of infection chains cannot be traced." Local governments in Kinmen, Lienchiang, and Miaoli in the northwest, which border China, urged public officials the day before to refrain from unnecessary business trips to Taoyuan.

Meanwhile, Taiwan's health authorities added that a Danish engineer who visited the central-western Jai factory under Taiwan Plastic Group tested positive in a test before departing on the 20th and has been isolated in a hospital in Taiwan, with contact tracing currently underway. It is understood that the engineer entered Taiwan on the 30th of last month with a negative COVID-19 certificate, completed a 14-day quarantine at a quarantine hotel, and then carried out work duties.

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