TAIPEI, Nov 30 (Reuters) – Taiwan’s Ministry of Health on Thursday ordered elderly, young and immunocompromised people to travel to China, citing a recent increase in respiratory illnesses in the country. He urged people to avoid traveling.
The World Health Organization (WHO) last week asked China for more information about the surge, but WHO officials said it was not as bad as before the coronavirus pandemic.
Taiwan has been wary of disease outbreaks in its giant neighbor since the 2002-2003 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak that began in China and killed about 800 people worldwide.
China, whose government claims Taiwan is democratically governed, initially tried to cover up the outbreak.
In a statement released after the weekly cabinet meeting, Taiwan’s Ministry of Health said that due to the rise in respiratory illnesses in China, “the elderly, young children, and other people with weak immune systems are urged to refrain from traveling to China unless necessary.” “It will be done,” he said.
It added that if you need to travel, you should get vaccinated against influenza and coronavirus before going to China.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Wednesday that the rise in respiratory diseases in China is a common problem faced by all countries, and Chinese authorities are effectively controlling it.
Reporting by Ben Blanchard.Editing: Miral Fahmy
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