By / ScenicSpot.com Fresh, compiled and reported
Due to the recent sharp increase in confirmed cases of "Wuhan pneumonia" in Italy, the number had reached 229 as of February 25, 2020, with seven deaths, and the source of infection remains unclear. Outside mainland China, Italy is now the country with the second-highest number of confirmed cases, showing a clear deterioration in the epidemic situation. Italy has implemented control measures including city lockdowns and travel bans in affected areas, and these developments will impact Taiwanese traveling to, doing business in, or investing in Italy.
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(Photo / murphybj4, same below.)
On February 21, 2020, the Italian Ministry of Health announced that it would require inbound travelers who had stayed in the "Chinese epidemic area" (as defined by the World Health Organization, WHO) within 14 days prior to entering Italy—regardless of nationality—to undergo home quarantine. Since the WHO erroneously included Taiwan under the Chinese epidemic area category, this measure by the Italian health authorities has raised concerns among travelers upon entry, and we have raised our concerns with Italy and requested clarification.
The Central Epidemic Command Center has classified Italy's travel-related epidemic risk as "Level 2," enhancing precautionary measures (strengthening protective actions locally), reminding Taiwanese in Italy to follow local epidemic prevention protocols, to conduct self-health management for 14 days after returning home, and advising our healthcare workers to avoid travel there.
Additionally, neighboring European countries have also increased their travel advisories for Italy, warning travelers to pay attention to the epidemic’s development. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has categorized Italy’s epidemic alert as "Level 2" (Alert: Be aware), advising travelers to Italy to enhance precautions.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has raised the travel advisory level for Italy to "Orange" effective immediately, reminding nationals to pay attention to travel safety and advising against non-essential travel to Italy. For the currently restricted epidemic areas in Italy, the advisory level has been raised to "Red," strongly advising against travel to these regions to avoid being required by local authorities to undergo a 14-day home quarantine or face fines.
Currently restricted epidemic areas under travel controls include the following cities in Italy’s northern Lombardy Province (Lombardy): Codogno; Casalpusterlengo, Castiglione d'Adda, Maleo, Fombio, Bertonico, Castelgerundo, Somaglia, San Fiorano, Terranova dei Passerini; as well as the Vo’ Euganeo area in Veneto Province (Veneto).
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Italian authorities have implemented various epidemic prevention measures in the aforementioned areas, including traffic controls on entry and exit, workplace and school closures, suspension of commercial activities (except essential services), cancellation of large-scale events, and suspension of public transportation services. For these epidemic areas under a "Red" travel advisory, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises nationals to avoid travel.
Similarly, the COVID-19 epidemic in South Korea is spreading rapidly, and the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) also announced that the cumulative number of confirmed Wuhan pneumonia cases reached 977 by the daytime of the 25th, with 10 deaths. There is also a shortage of masks across the country, and many Koreans have flown to Qingdao, China, to avoid the outbreak, where flight tickets are hard to come by and prices have surged several times over.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has raised the travel advisory level for all of South Korea to "Orange" effective immediately, and for the Daegu Metropolitan City and Cheongdo County in North Gyeongsang Province in South Korea, the advisory level has been raised to "Red."
Wuhan pneumonia epidemic spreads: Two new domestic cases confirmed as family contacts
》https://www.mook.com.tw/article_m.php?op=articleinfo&articleid=23328