Taiwan reported four new local cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday. Authorities also reported 30 more imported cases among people arriving in Taiwan. There were no deaths reported.
Health Minister Chen Shih-chung says that the first of the new cases, a cleaner at Taoyuan airport, was already announced last night. Since then, authorities have been carrying out testing of all possible contacts at the cleaner’s workplace and at home.
Chen says that genetic sequencing has determined that the cleaner was infected with the Omicron variant of COVID-19.
Chen says another two of the four new cases are airport workers who took the same bus as the cleaner to work. Of 26 people on the bus, authorities have tested 22 so far, with two positive and the rest negative.
Both of the two airport workers tested positive with a Ct value of 24.5. The first had no symptoms. Authorities say two of her family members have tested negative, and they are awaiting results for one more.
The second airport worker began experiencing symptoms on Saturday. She has one family member, who has tested negative.
The fourth and final local case is a quarantine taxi driver. He tested positive with a Ct value of 28.4, and began experiencing symptoms on Saturday. The taxi driver has one family member who is still being tested.
Health authorities say so far, they have tested 314 quarantine taxi drivers, with all but one returning negative results. Authorities say they hope to test about 600 taxi drivers in total.
The first local case, the cleaner at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, spent time at Zhongzhen Market in Taoyuan City on December 30 and 31. In response, health authorities have set up testing stations at the market, Longgang playground, Taoyuan North District Hakka Hall, and Longgang Forest Park. The stations will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a break between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.
Health Minister Chen also says that authorities are reversing relaxed rules for wearing masks outside. He says that people should wear a mask at all times, including when taking photos.
Taxi drivers at the airport will need to take a PCR spit test every three days, while airport workers need to take a rapid test every week. Workers who develop symptoms should immediately take a PCR test.
Taiwan also reported 30 imported cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday. That includes 22 travelers from the United States, as well as travelers from France, Norway, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, the UK, Poland and Uzbekistan.