Taipei City Department of Health said Thursday that 39,154 text messages have been sent to concertgoers who attended shows by Taiwan Mandopop queen A-mei (???), informing them of possible contact with individuals who later tested positive for COVID-19.
Recipients of the text messages are advised to pay attention to their health and if they develop suspected COVID-19 symptoms, they should take a rapid test and contact their closest health authorities.
With two shows remaining, A-mei's concerts have been plagued with reports that many shows were visited by attendees who later tested positive, with 16 confirmed cases as of Thursday afternoon.
According to city health department spokeswoman Chi Yu-chiu (???), 10 of those individuals are residents of Taipei, with the other six living in other cities and counties.
Of the 10 Taipei cases, one was added Thursday afternoon, she said.
As a result, 340 people have been quarantined and 39,154 text messages were sent to concertgoers, Chi said.
Meanwhile, Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (???) said at least five confirmed cases in the southern port city involve individuals who attended the concerts.
The city government has identified over 900 people who attended the concerts, he added.
Each one received a text message from the city government, urging them to visit a medical facility to take a COVID-19 test and about 200 have done so.
Kaohsiung health officials noted that collected evidence indicated the concert organizers did not regulate drinking or eating during the shows, and that many people were seen not wearing face masks, increasing the chance of concertgoers contracting the virus.
As of press time, the remaining shows scheduled for Friday and Saturday are set to go ahead.
A-mei canceled the audience interaction segment of the shows beginning April 8, while the singer and about 500 staff are also regularly tested in accordance with COVID-19 protocols, according to the concert organizers.
A-mei's 12-date residency from April 1-16 at Taipei Arena is the first time she has performed at the venue since her Utopia World Tour in 2015.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel