Page 88 - 2023 Taiwan Health and Welfare Report

06 2023 Taiwan Health and Welfare Report 06

expropriated and utilized to disseminate real- Chapter 3 Communicable Disease
time and transparent domestic and international Preparedness and
epidemic information, as well as various epidemic
Response, and Infection
prevention decisions and measures.
Control
(2) Taiwan CDC has expanded the capacity of its
"1922 Hotline," and additional features such Section 1 Preparedness and Response
as automated SMS replies and voice message
to Emerging and Reemerging
capabilities were introduced to ensure efficient
Infectious Diseases
call diversion. These measures aimed to ensure
that inquiring individuals could promptly access 1. International Port Quarantine: In response to the
the information they needed. Furthermore, since COVID-19 variant outbreak, from July 2, 2021 to
the establishment of Central Epidemic Command September 28, 2022, on-arrival saliva-based PCR
Center to 2023, the cumulative number of testing was conducted on over 940,000 incoming
COVID-19-related calls received through the travelers, detecting 21,000 confirmed cases. Starting
1922 hotline reached 12,633,109. from September 29, 2022, border surveillance
(3) The MOHW has actively taken action against returned to normal monitoring, screening 1,379
disinformation and immediately investigated symptomatic travelers, 673 of whom tested positive
and prosecuted cases according to applicable for COVID-19. Additionally, airports and ports
laws and regulations. Immediate action was implemented voluntary reporting and screening
also taken to investigate violations of epidemic mechanisms for incoming travelers exhibiting
prevention and related measures. suspected symptoms of infectious diseases. In 2022,
this system successfully intercepted 31 cases of
6. Smart Pandemic Prevention
dengue fever and 1 case of monkeypox, preventing
(1) Optimized smart technology to develop smart
them from entering the community and effectively
epidemic prevention systems. As Taiwan entered
reducing the burden on the community.
the community transmission stage, the "Contact
2. To safeguard the health of Taiwanese people traveling
Tracing Self-reporting System for Confirmed
abroad, 32 contracted hospitals were commissioned
Cases" was launched on May 1, 2022. This system
to provide integrated international travel medicine
streamlined the local government's epidemiological
services. In addition, a Travel Medicine Education
investigations and reduced paper notifications,
prioritizing the allocation of isolation treatment for and Training Center was established. In 2022, a total
patients with moderate to severe symptoms. of 25 training courses were conducted for medical
personnel and travel service providers to deepen the
(2) On December 28, 2021, the MOHW opened the
awareness of epidemic prevention during travel for
"Taiwan Digital COVID-19 Certificate" system on
the Taiwanese population.
its official website, allowing people to download
and print their certificates themselves. On March 3. Monkeypox Prevention and Control: In response to
24, 2022, additional features were introduced, the monkeypox outbreaks in Europe and America,
including the functions to apply a certificate using on June 23, 2022, monkeypox was officially
a passport number, add the digital certificate classified as a category 2 notifiable communicable
to an iOS or Android app, and to print the disease. Various prevention and control measures
certificate from the cloud at convenience stores. were implemented, including strengthened
Starting from May 30, 2022, the system added international airport/port quarantine, reporting
the function to reissue a COVID-19 Designated from medical institutions, and risk communication
Location Isolation (Home Isolation) Notice for a and health education for the public. Additionally,
confirmed case. Furthermore, on July 14, 2022, the procurement and allocation of monkeypox
the system added the function to issue digital antiviral drugs and vaccines were completed. Active
certificates in the Smart Health Card (SHC) format. monitoring of domestic and international situations

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