More than 10,000 people may need to self-isolate or undergo home quarantine by the end of January in the northern city of Taoyuan. That’s the word from Mayor Cheng Wen-tsan on Monday.
Cheng says that there are already nearly 5,000 people in quarantine. Authorities expect those numbers to rise as people travel home to stay with family over the Lunar New Year holidays
Mayor Cheng says current estimates suggest that the number of people in quarantine could rise to around 8,000. Add to that another 5,000 people in self-isolation, and Cheng says about 13,000 people could be confined at home.
Authorities in Taoyuan are continuing to cancel and postpone large-scale events. Schools have closed and local councils and community centers have also stopped providing services.
Cheng is calling on all branches of the local government to do their part in the epidemic prevention effort. He says that if the need arises, the labour and education departments should both be ready to contribute staff and resources to fighting the pandemic.
The mayor is also asking the environmental protection department to plan a mass disinfection of the entire city. The army will assist in smaller-scale infections.