Records are meant to be broken.
Or at least, that’s what the general idea was.
With the emergence of the pandemic, however, the conventional mindset has changed. And now, the said record breaker, who might’ve been lauded and praised (provided that it’s for a legitimate reason) just twelve months ago…
Has instead earned himself a hefty fine and a complimentary retrenchment.
Pilot Who Caused Taiwan’s First Community Case in 8 Months Fired by EVA Air & Fined
The pilot at the forefront of Taiwan’s first community case in 8 months has been fired from EVA Airways on Wednesday (23 December).
He was also handed a hefty fine of NT$300,000 (SGD$14,176).
In a statement, the airline expressed that the pilot had flouted pandemic prevention orders, and caused “serious damage to the company’s reputation and image”.
Apparently, he had failed to “truthfully declare” his contacts and activities to health authorities – in spite of his realisation that he was infected.
He also neglected his mask while on duty, despite being reminded of the safety protocol.
He was reportedly coughing during a flight on 12 December 2020.
As a result of the pilot’s negligence, two colleagues, as well as a Taiwanese woman who purportedly had contact with him, tested positive.
The woman would go on to make contact with 173 people – 170 of whom tested negative. The rest are still pending.
Tougher Measures
The pilot’s behaviour didn’t just break a highly-coveted record – or to be exact, a whopping 253 days without Covid-19 infections.
It also made authorities re-evaluate the whole ‘Pilot quarantine sequence’ – which originally only took three days after each overseas trip.
In comparison, other travellers are required to undergo a stringent two-week process.
Efficiency
Taiwan may have had its fiercely-guarded conduct blemished by a single man, but nothing should be taken away from its prowess thus far.
In spite of a population of nearly 24 million, it only recorded 776 coronavirus cases and seven deaths after measures were put into place.
Since 12 April, all positive cases have been of an incoming nature – whether it’s a local who’s returning to the island, or a foreigner permitted to enter because of business reasons.
This successful containment can largely be attributed to early and effective prevention methods and widespread mask-wearing.
For one, Taiwanese officials have been checking flight passengers from Wuhan, China, for fever and pneumonia symptoms as early as 31 December 2019.
Wuhan is where the coronavirus first originated, of course.
And by 20 Jan, the government had activated the Central Epidemic Command Center, in a bid to coordinate a response between different sectors and branches.
It also made sure to convey the importance of wearing masks, and rationed supplies to curb panic-buying.
By 23 January, the government had suspended flights from Wuhan, and restricted Chinese nationals – who live in Wuhan – from entering.
All arrivals in the country were also required to undergo a stringent 14-day quarantine period.
They also have excellent contact tracing capabilities and harsh penalties for those who breach these safety measures.
Featured Image: Ryan Fletcher / Shutterstock.com
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