Those picking up family members or friends returning from overseas at the airport should wear gloves and keep their vehicle windows open to reduce the spread of COVID-19, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said Wednesday.
The advice was issued after two Taichung residents, who had picked up three relatives returning from overseas at Taoyuan Airport, became the first domestic cases infected with the BA.5 Omicron subvariant of COVID-19 recorded in Taiwan.
Although the two domestic cases, a mother and son, wore their masks throughout the entirety of the car ride from the airport to the quarantine hotel, Lo Yi-chun (???), deputy head of the CECC's medical response division, said it was still possible to get infected when in an enclosed space for a long period of time, such as during the family's "not insignificant" journey from Taoyuan to Taichung.
Lo advised individuals who plan on picking up their family members or relatives at the airport to get vaccinated with two doses beforehand and wear gloves, adding the vehicle's windows should be opened to improve airflow.
In addition, all those in the vehicle should wear a mask and keep talking and physical contact to a minimum throughout, while those arriving from overseas should disinfect their hands, shoes, and luggage, prior to getting in the vehicle, Lo said.
The interior and exterior of the car should be disinfected once the passengers have arrived at their quarantine location, especially the handles, seats, and seat belts, Lo said.
In cases where travelers test positive after arriving in Taiwan, they should inform the individuals who picked them up at the airport, Lo said, adding that around 25 percent of all arrivals have been picked up by family and friends since Taiwan began allowing the option again on June 15.
Currently, those who are confirmed as imported BA.4 or BA.5 cases do not have to extend the length of their quarantine, but arrangements will be made for their co-habitants and those they traveled with to get tested, Lo said.
Whether contact tracing is conducted in domestic BA.4 and BA.5 cases depends on the circumstances of the infected individual, such as their place of school or work, Lo said.
To date, Taiwan has recorded 204 imported cases of BA.5 and two domestic BA.5 cases, along with 36 cases of BA.4, Lo said.
The BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants were first detected in January and February 2022, respectively, in South Africa. They can evade immunity from prior infections and appear to be more transmissible than previous Omicron strains, according to the CECC.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel