Quarantine Measurements of Cruise Ships at Keelung Port During COVID-19 Pandemic, Taiwan, 2020

DOI: 10.6525/TEB.202212_38(23).0002

Ming-Ching Liu1*, Chen-Huang Yang1, Wen-Hua Chen1, Chih-Pei Sun2, Wen-Ting Lin1, Pei-Chun Chuang1, Yu-Ju Lin1, Shih-hao Liu1, Jui-Wei Hsieh1

2022 Vol.38 NO.23

Correspondence Author: Ming-Ching Liu1*

  • 1Taipei Regional Center, Centers for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan
  • 2Center for Research, Diagnostics and Vaccine Development, Centers for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan

Abstract:

        Keelung port, which has developed cruise ship economics and established regular quarantine measures in recent years, has become the dominant berth port of cruise ships in Taiwan. In response to the rapid change of worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, Taiwan banned international cruise ships from berthing at international ports on February 6, 2020. During the period from January 31 to February 8, 2020, three cruise ships (DP, WD and AQ) called at Keelung port, and different quarantine measures were carried out, including shore risk assessment mode, shore quarantine mode and boarding quarantine mode, respectively. While COVID-19 pandemic shows easing in the future, quarantine measures could certainly be loosened and the international ports for cruise ships would be reopened. To prevent the COVID-19 from entering to community, we suggest that various risk factors should be considered before and after cruise ships calling at the ports. Furthermore, competent authorities should take applicable quarantine measures according to the results of risk assessments.