GROWING GROUP:
Health and Welfare Minister Chen Shih-chung said people who go to accompanied places must be fully vaccinated and register their details.

• By Lee I-chia / Staff Reporter

The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) yesterday announced tightened COVID-19 vaccination requirements for workers and patrons of certain types of recreation facilities, effective immediately.

From Friday to yesterday, 27 new cases of COVID-19 have been linked to a cluster in Keelung, the center said, adding that the cluster includes customers and employees of a restaurant and karaoke bar, as well as members of their family.

Many of the restaurant’s patrons also frequented certain types of recreational facilities, especially escort services, said Health and Welfare Minister Chen Shih-chung (陳時中), who heads the center.

“Therefore, the CECC is announcing that all patrons of these recreational facilities nationwide must present a COVID-19 vaccination certificate proving that they have received a booster shot of a COVID-19 vaccine,” a- he declared.

Leisure facilities include karaoke bars, dance halls, nightclubs, hostess bars, pubs, lounges and saunas, as well as specialty cafes and tea rooms with escort services.

Customers who show proof of a recall must scan the contact’s registration code at the entrance, and are barred from entering if they have a fever or respiratory symptoms, he added. .

All workers at these facilities, including associated freelancers, must be fully immunized, which means they received a second dose at least 14 days ago or received a booster shot because their second dose was over three months, Chen said.

By April 30, workers must also take a rapid COVID-19 test every week, he said, adding that only workers who test negative can provide services.

Keelung has temporarily closed some restaurants and karaoke bars with escort services, so workers at those venues must provide a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test result for COVID-19 within three days. their return to work, he said.

Workers must also take a rapid COVID-19 test every other day for the first two weeks of operation, as well as a weekly PCR test, he added.

Sites must keep records of workers, including all service workers, counter staff, janitors, administrative employees and associated freelancers, and also have a health monitoring and contact tracing plan in place , Chen said.