Passengers travelling on public transportation in Taiwan without wearing masks to protect against coronavirus will be handed a hefty fine, the government announced on Friday.
“Violators are subjected to a fine between 3,000 Taiwan dollars (100 dollars) and 15,000 New Taiwan dollars,’’ Health and Welfare Minister Chen Shih-chung told a news conference.
According to Chen, wearing a mask is essential because it is difficult to maintain social distancing on public transport.
“It is possible that some sources of coronavirus in the nation remain unidentified,’’ he added.
According to the Central Epidemic Command Center, so far, Taiwan has reported 348 confirmed cases of Covid-19, the pneumonia-like disease caused by the novel virus, including five deaths.
Fifty patients have since recovered.
Amid a steady rise in infections, the institute urged people late March to stay no less than 1.5 metres away from each other while indoors and one metre away while outdoors.
The measure was announced after Taiwan increased its production of surgical masks.
Starting on April 9, each person covered by Taiwan’s national health insurance will be allowed to buy nine disposable surgical masks every two weeks.
Taiwan is also to donate 10 million surplus surgical masks to countries hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic.
“We thank the people of Taiwan for their generous support and collaboration as we continue our fight against the coronavirus,’’ the U.S. White House National Security Council tweeted.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen tweeted on Thursday, also thanked the nation “for its donation of 5.6 million masks” to the European Union.
