Changhua Police Prepare for Officer Returning from Turkey|疫情衝擊警官偕妻遊土耳其恐無法返國

發布時間：2020/3/17 18:25 更新時間：2020/3/17 19:39

C. Chuang

As the 8 additional cases of COVID-19 infection on the 16 all came from abroad, those who stick to their travel plans are under spotlight and scrutiny. A police officer from Chunahua County decided to travel with his wife to Turkey on the 10, when the country was not on the travel alert list then. However, Turkey, along with 42 other countries and region have been upgraded to Level 3 during their trip. The couple may be unable to return as scheduled and will have to undergo home isolation after they land. Some criticized that as he is a police officer, he should know that he should take precautions during the epidemic situation and not leave the country.

Coronavirus disease 2019 prevention measures are in full effect at Taoyuan International Airport. The disease is currently spreading throughout the Middle East and Europe, and the Central Epidemic Command Center upgraded the travel advisory for 42 countries and one region, including Turkey, to Level 3, effective March 17. On March 10, a Changhua County police officer and his family traveled to Turkey. Now, they may be unable to return as the airline they were going to take has suspended flights to Taiwan. Some people say they will need to assume the responsibility for their return.

This should have been avoided during these extraordinary circumstances. If you really want to go, then you should assume the responsibility.

As he is a police officer, he should know that he should take precautions during the epidemic situation and not leave the country if possible.

Others said the man should have taken a more cautious approach as he is a police officer. If he gets infected overseas, he could pass on the infection to his colleagues upon his return, affecting the entire Changhua County Police Bureau. The bureau says the man will not be allowed to return to work until it is confirmed he is not infected.

We reminded him before he left that he should wear a mask and take safety precautions when he is abroad. He told us he knows all this. We will ensure that he complies with all the self-monitoring requirements during his 14-day at-home quarantine. He will not return to work until he is completely healthy.

The bureau adds the police officer followed regulations in requesting leave, and at that time Turkey was not at a Level 3 alert. Although it suggested postponing the trip, the man decided to stick with his original plans. There have been several cases of Taiwan nationals returning from Turkey with COVID-19.

在桃園國際機場的國門防疫，必須要做到滴水不漏，現在武漢肺炎疫情在歐洲及中東爆發，其中土耳其的旅遊疫情也升到第三級，彰化縣警局一名警官，上週仍然著妻子前往土耳其旅行，現在原本搭乘的班機已經停飛台灣，恐怕無法順利返台，有民眾認為，他要自己承擔。

民眾表示：「非常時期還是儘量避免，但是如果真的愛去，就自行承擔吧！」

民眾表示：「既然他自己是警察，就要知道就是，疫情就是要防範，就是要防範我們的疫情，儘量還是不要出門(國)。」

也有民眾覺得，身為警察人員，應該用更嚴謹的態度來面對這波疫情，要是不慎感染、返台後又傳染給同事，那彰化縣警察局恐怕會淪陷，彰化縣警察局強調，該員警返台後一定會等到確認身體健康無虞，才可以上班。

彰化縣警察局秘書科長陳文欽表示：「當初出國的時候，我們已經有跟他提示過，就是說你出國，一定要注意這個戴口罩，一些自己防護自己的安全措施，他也都說知道這個訊息，我們會監督他做好這個，14天的居家檢疫的健康管理，等他完全健康以後再來上班。」

彰化縣警局表示，該員警是依照規定請假出國，且當時土耳其的旅遊疫情並未提升到第三級，雖然有建議暫緩出國，但員警最後仍照原訂計畫出國，現在有數名國人從土耳其返台確診，警局的同仁也都很擔心。