Coronavirus: Taiwan reports 29 new domestic cases, a record rise prompting call for testing
- Health minister says many of new infections can be traced to Taipei’s Wanhua district, urges testing so ‘the chain of transmission can be broken’
- Premier Su Tseng-chang wrote on Facebook Taiwan was more experienced and had more resources than last year to fight the pandemic
Health Minister Chen Shih-chung told a news conference that of the 29 new domestic infections many were connected with an outbreak in Taipei’s Wanhua district, an often gritty area that mixes old temples with trendy shops and hostess bars.
Chen called for people who think they might have had contact with an infected patient or have symptoms to attend one of the rapid testing stations the government was setting up around Wanhua.
“The sooner testing happens the sooner the chain of transmission can be broken,” he added.
The presidential office said a staffer was in quarantine after meeting family members who had eaten with someone who later tested positive, but added that President Tsai Ing-wen had not had contact with the staffer and was in good health.