TAIPEI - Taiwan will suspend entry of Indonesian migrant workers indefinitely as doubts linger over the credibility of Indonesia’s coronavirus (COVID-19) test results, said Taiwan’s Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).
As reported by Focus Taiwan, in October 2020 11 Indonesians tested positive for COVID-19 in Taiwan despite having been tested negative in Indonesia, and between 1 to 15 December 80% of positive COVID-19 cases from Indonesia had also previously tested negative before departing to Taiwan.
“These test results have become more inaccurate over time. We are not sure what the problem is,” said Taiwanese Health and Welfare Minister Chen Shih-chung on Wednesday (16/12).
According to Mr Chen, Taiwan will continue to suspend entry of Indonesian migrant workers until Indonesia improves the accuracy and credibility of its test results. He added that the CECC has communicated with Indonesian authorities on the issue, though so far “there has been no progress”.
“They think they are doing a good job, which is something we do not have a consensus on,” Mr Chen said.
On Monday (14/12), the CECC proposed that migrant workers from Indonesia provide COVID-19 nucleic acid test results issued by government-certified institutions, which Indonesian officials disputed as “discriminatory”.
There are currently around 250,000 Indonesian migrant workers in Taiwan. (MS)