Strict new regulations have been launched since February 9, on the movement of personnel and seafarers in and out of the Port of Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
The new regulations came after a new cluster of COVID-19 was discovered in the port, and were enacted after one of the port’s pilots tested positive for the virus and it was discovered that he had been skipping regularly scheduled screenings.
Namely, all the pilots working at the Port of Kaohsiung were ordered to carry out mandatory testing as well as the communities around the port.
Officials also reported that the pilot tested positive on February 5 but had skipped at least two prior screenings. Now, due to increased restrictions on the port because of the spread of the Omicron variant, pilots and other port personnel were required to be screened every three days.
What is more, 10 new domestic cases of COVID-19 were discovered, while 174 people who had come in contact with the cases have been ordered into quarantine,.
Overall, 41 harbor pilots were re-screened over the weekend, and health officials had cleared 29 of the pilots with negative tests and were waiting the results for the remainder of the pilots
Port operations have continued normally at Kaohsiung, but the government reported that it schedules to fine the pilot who skipped his two screenings up to a maximum of more than $10,000.
From February 9, port officials will not allow anyone who has not been screened to enter or work in the port area.
