Flight to bring back 21 Taiwanese, one American spouse from Paraguay

Taipei, June 3 (CNA) A total of 21 Taiwanese nationals and the American spouse of one national who were stranded in Paraguay due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic are scheduled to return to the country late Thursday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said Wednesday.

The 22 people will be taken from the U.S. city of Miami to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, said MOFA spokeswoman Joanne Ou (歐江安). The group arrived in Miami from Paraguay's capital, Asunción, on June 2 on a U.S. government-contracted charter flight, according to Ou.

Ou said the foreign ministry has informed the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) about their scheduled arrival, she added.

In accordance with CECC rules, upon arrival, the passengers will be sent directly to designated sites and quarantined for 14 days before being allowed to return home.

Ou expressed gratitude toward the U.S. embassy in Paraguay for helping the 22 individuals return to Taiwan. The individuals had been stranded in Paraguay after its March 25 announcement of the suspension of all civilian flights to prevent the spread of the pandemic, according to MOFA.