Taiwan will not allow local governments to test all arriving COVID-19 passengers without a coordinated response according to Health Minister and Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) head Chen Shih-chung.
"We won't allow that" because the large number of false positives expected with universal testing could overwhelm Taiwan's medical system and harm the country's COVID-19 prevention measures, Chen expressed reported by CNA.
Under CECC protocol, all inbound passengers, except for some people who are in Taiwan for diplomatic or business purposes, must undergo 14-day quarantine and are tested for the virus only if they show symptoms.
Chen rejected growing calls by public health experts and local government leaders for testing of all inbound passengers.
Those calling for universal testing of incoming travelers have been expressing fears that asymptomatic carriers could spread the virus to local communities.
COVID-19 case brings the total number in Taiwan to 487, with 395 classified as imported, 55 as locally acquired, and 36 as a cluster infection on board a naval ship, an outbreak that was deemed to have originated in Taiwan.
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