Premier Mao Chi-kuo today directed health authorities to take more precautions against the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) after neighboring South Korea became the second-worst affected country in the world.
"With the number of infections in South Korea escalating by the day, we must raise our defenses and prepare for the worst," he said after hearing the Ministry of Health and Welfare's (MOHW) report on the latest developments.
The premier asked the MOHW to continue monitoring the situation in South Korea and other countries. Preventive measures must be taken, including border checks to keep the virus out of Taiwan, preparing the health care system, and raising the awareness of all health workers. Other government agencies were asked to extend full support to the MOHW.
The premier instructed the MOHW to work out the measures as soon as possible. People who develop MERS-like symptoms after returning from South Korea or the Middle East should be required to inform doctors of their travel history. And to avoid a public panic, false rumors must be stopped as quickly as possible and those who start rumors dealt with severely, the premier said, asking the National Communications Commission and police units to assist in this matter.