At Thursday's weekly Cabinet meeting, Premier Chen Chien-jen received a briefing from the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) on the current status of an outbreak of respiratory illnesses in China and recommended actions. The premier said that Taiwan has not experienced a rapid surge in respiratory infections similar to China, and since mid-September, Taiwan has seen a decline in influenza-like cases for seven consecutive weeks. Nevertheless, due to the high level of interaction between peoples on either side of the Taiwan Strait, the government has increased surveillance measures for related infectious pathogens.
The premier said that the recent surge of respiratory tract infections in China is primarily related to influenza virus, but is also attributed to rhinovirus (common cold virus), Mycoplasma pneumoniae, adenovirus and coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) pathogens. As temperatures decrease during the winter months, we can expect to see a continued rise in respiratory infections in China.
The premier instructed quarantine stations at airports and seaports to heighten their overall vigilance, and he directed the MOHW to increase dissemination of health advisories, prepare adequate medical supplies and augment health care capacity, and conduct a rolling review of public health measures based on monitoring of the latest developments. The premier also directed the relevant ministries and agencies to safeguard the health of the public by planning measures in advance to accommodate the surge of travelers expected during the Lunar New Year holiday period.