Taipei Travel

During the pandemic prevention press conference on May 19, Mayor Ko Wen-je called upon the support of former medical workers to strengthen COVID-fighting efforts. Deputy Mayor Haung Shan-shan also briefed the public on how city staff proceed with handling patients with positive results.

Regarding the rapid test results for the day, Ko remarked that out of a total of 1,213 individuals tested, the positive rate averaged out to 5.1%. While the numbers have been alarming for the past 5 days, the new figures indicated that the reduction of public activities helped to slow the spread. However, once activity resumes, it is likely that we will see another rise in cases.

Ko noted that effective public health policies need members of the public to cooperate. Citizens should do their best not to leave home, wear face masks when outside, and not drink or eat when outside. Currently, roughly 20% of people who tested positive need to be hospitalized, and only 4% with serious condition require further ICU care. However, to ensure adequate medical care manpower, the mayor calls upon medical personnel who have retired or resigned to reenter the workplace and help with pandemic prevention efforts.

Any changes in the current operation model of local hospitals must be reported and given the green light by the Department of Health. Now, with the need to control the volume of hospital activities, any suspension of operations may have a severe impact upon medical care capabilities.

The mayor noted that the city government ordered hospitals in Taipei City to lower the occupancy of bed spaces to make room for COVID patients and to obtain a more accurate calculation of bed availability. After consideration of factors such as hospital scale of operation and other unreasonable elements, the city government adjusted the executive order as below:
 

1. Hospital room expropriation will only target regional level hospitals or above. The ideal number is 1/10 of the institution’s general acute bed volume. The city government hopes to complete the process in 1 week. The Department of Health will contact the respective hospitals with details.
2. Hospitals who do not qualify in terms of scale of operation will be asked to provide support in the form of medical personnel staffing at quarantine stations and hotels.

As for hospital fee, the mayor pointed out that the fee resulting from readjusting hospital beds to designated ward and the medical bills for designated hospital will definitely be different from the past. However, this will require further talks with the National Health Insurance Administration. For citizens encountering difficulties due to the reduced economic activities, the social service centers across Taipei’s 12 administrative districts may offer assistance.

Deputy Mayor Huang Shan-shan briefed the public on the follow-up after rapid test and PCR test. Individuals who tested positive displaying moderate or serious symptoms will be transported to designated hospitals via ambulance or assigned to other dedicated wards via EMOC. For asymptomatic patients and those with mild symptom, they will head to central quarantine stations via quarantine buses. Currently, all central quarantine stations have stationed medical staff.

For those whose rapid test result is positive, please take heed of the following:

1. Provide your history from 3 days before showing symptoms to the day of quarantine.
2. Fill out the self-assessment form and forward the health risk notification to those you have interacted with, asking them to take a rapid test.
3. Self-quarantine, wear face mask, and monitor your own health.
4. Dedicated hotline: TEL: (02) 2375-3782 or 1922.

For those whose PCR result is positive, be aware of the following:

1. Do not visit public places or take public transportation within 3 days after taking the test.
2. Stay within you own room at home and avoid contact with others.
3. Wear surgical face mask, wash your hands, and disinfect frequently.
4. The agency responsible for testing will contact the authority and arrange follow-up actions for the patient
5. Dedicated hotline: TEL: (02) 2375-3782 or 1922.

For those who took the COVID-19 PCR test at hospitals after May 13, if you still have not received call backs from the Department of Health, please call the Pandemic Prevention Hotline: (02) 2375-3782.