Failure to comply with regulations in Taiwan’s quarantine hotels may be the reason for cluster outbreaks of COVID-19 among guests. That was the word from the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) on Tuesday, after health officials reviewed surveillance tapes from the hotels.
Taiwan has reported Delta variant cluster infections in two quarantine hotels within the past three weeks. The infected guests were primarily living on the same hotel floor.
The CECC says that while the guests did not leave their rooms, some people failed to wear their masks when they opened the door to pick up food or dispose of trash. Officials say this violates official protocol, and could allow the virus to spread to staff and other guests.
The CECC has reiterated the quarantine regulations, saying that masks must be worn whenever opening the door, and that guests should avoid any interaction with hotel staff. If it is necessary to speak to staff, guests must be wearing a mask and maintain social distancing.
Furthermore, the CECC now says that in order to avoid possible airborne transmissions, guests at quarantine hotels should not open their windows or attempt to adjust the room’s air conditioning.