Taiwanese man to be fined for not reporting viral symptoms

Kaohsiung, Jan. 25 (CNA) The Kaohsiung city government said Saturday it will fine a Taiwanese man for not reporting his illness after returning home from Wuhan, the Chinese city at the heart of a coronavirus epidemic.

The businessman, who arrived at Kaohsiung International Airport on Jan. 21, will be fined NT$300,000 (US$9,987) for violating the Communicable Disease Control Act, said Pan Chao-ying (潘炤穎), a specialist with the city's Department of Health.

He said the man, one of three confirmed cases of infection from the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in Taiwan, did not tell the relevant authorities that he had symptoms of an upper respiratory infection before he entered Taiwan.

Moreover, the man in his 50s visited a dance club in the southern Taiwan city the day after his return without wearing a face mask, Pan said, and because of his behavior, a female worker at the club developed symptoms Saturday morning and had to seek treatment.

The club was closed for at least two days starting Saturday and has begun disinfecting its premises, Pan said.

He also indicated that the health of the people the man has come in contact with since arriving in Taiwan will be monitored until Feb. 5.