to the Taiwanese authorities.
Pilot blamed for Taiwan's first local Covid transmission since April | Taiwan | The Guardian
Taiwan has reported its first local coronavirus transmission since 12 April, blaming a foreign pilot for ending 253 virus-free days.
Health authorities said a woman in her thirties had tested positive after having contact with the pilot, a New Zealander working for a Taiwanese airline who was confirmed to have been infected on Sunday after flying planes to the US.
The health minister, Chen Shih-chung, said the pilot had failed to “truthfully declare” his contacts and activities to authorities once he had been confirmed as a carrier.
Authorities said the pilot – who faces a fine of up to NT$300,000 (£8,500) – visited several establishments, including a department store.
The infection is a blow for an island that has been lauded for its pandemic response, having recorded just 770 cases and seven deaths after it shut its borders early and implemented strict quarantine rules.
Since 12 April, all positive cases have been either from a small number of citizens returning to the island or among the few foreigners and migrant workers allowed in for business reasons.
The vast majority of arrivals have to quarantine for two weeks and must test negative, a measure which – until Tuesday – had successfully kept any carriers from introducing the virus to the community.
Pilots, however, undergo a less strict three days of self-quarantine after each overseas trip and the new case has sparked debate about whether those measures should be tightened.
Soon after the virus first emerged in central China, Taiwan shut its borders, increased mask production and introduced a track and trace programme.
Within two months of its first outbreak, local infections had ceased.
Throughout the year the island of 24 million people has managed to avoid the widespread lockdowns and closures that have blighted the rest of the world.
Taiwan’s economy is on track to grow by 2.5% this year.
