CORONAVIRUS/About 20% of arrivals from China test positive for COVID: CECC

Taipei, Jan. 5 (CNA) China's COVID-19 pandemic is still peaking, with about 20 percent of arrivals from China at Taiwan airports testing positive for the coronavirus, according to the Central Epidemic Control Center (CECC) on Thursday.
For instance, on Tuesday, of the 1,001 arrivals from China at Taoyuan International Airport and the 140 arrivals at Taipei Songshan Airport, 186 and 18, respectively, tested positive for the disease, resulting in a positivity rate of almost 20 percent, according to the CECC at a press conference.
This positivity rate is also similar to that for China arrivals at airports in South Korea, indicating the pandemic in China is still peaking after Beijing relaxed its COVID-19 policy in December, according to the CECC.
The CECC also said that nearly half of the increasing number of imported infections in Taiwan now come from China, though it did not specify any figures.
The CECC will announce more data about arrivals from China this week on Friday.
However, the CECC does not plan to use the electronic fence system to monitor arrivals from China for now, nor will it open the border to Chinese tourists soon, said CECC head Victor Wang (王必勝) at the press conference.
Meanwhile, Wang said that throughout January, those on flights from the Chinese cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, and Xiamen -- which all currently have direct flights to Taiwan -- will be subjected to a saliva-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test at the airport when they arrive in Taiwan.
As for those from Hong Kong and Macau, they do not have to take the PCR test upon arrival, but will have to provide a negative result of a PCR test done within 48 hours prior to their boarding, Wang said.
With the Lunar New Year around the corner, Wang reminded the public to prepare a number of face masks and rapid test kits in advance, as most pharmacies will be closed during the holiday.
Update
Jan. 31: Taiwan to lift COVID-19 testing on travelers from China from Feb. 7
- Taiwan records 675 new COVID-19 cases, 175 deaths over past weekTaiwan reported 675 new COVID-19 cases and 175 deaths from the disease from March 24 to March 30, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) Thursday.03/30/2023 06:42 PM
- COVID-19 data to be updated weekly: CECCAs new COVID-19 infections over the past month have shown a steady downward trajectory, from Thursday the COVID-19 dashboard will be updated weekly rather than daily, Taiwan's ...03/28/2023 05:45 PM
- CECC sees no rise in COVID-19 cases after case reporting endsIn the week after Taiwan stopped requiring people to report mild or asymptomatic COVID-19 infections and isolate themselves for five days, there was no sign of COVID-19 cases ...03/26/2023 10:26 PM
- Business
TSMC opens overseas operations office to supervise fabs in U.S., Japan
04/01/2023 09:48 PM - Cross-Strait
Ex-President Ma mentions 'ROC' during ancestor worship in China (update)
04/01/2023 09:29 PM - Science & Tech
Taiwan needs generative AI different to ChatGPT: AI Labs founder
04/01/2023 09:06 PM - Business
Cathay Financial cuts Taiwan's 2023 GDP growth forecast to below 2%
04/01/2023 08:52 PM - Culture
Taichung International ACG Expo kicks off
04/01/2023 08:35 PM