The naval cluster infection has produced another four new cases of COVID-19 from the Panshi ship. This is following a second round of tests just before the sailors completed their quarantine to go home. All four of these cases were asymptomatic.
Sailors from the infamous COVID-19 cluster infection fleet were released from quarantine on the 4th. They will be asked to perform self-health management at home. A total of 713 sailors from the fleet were retested recently, with 367 from the Yuefei and Kangding ships testing negative. However, four more sailors from the Panshi ship tested positive. All four are asymptomatic. National Defense Minister Yen De-fa said 346 Panshi sailors would be tested again.
After the second test, the Centers for Disease Control should provide some guidelines. We will follow CDC directives. Under the current system, those that test positive will be sent in for treatment. Those that have a second negative result will be sent home, where they will perform residential self-health management.
The cluster infection was just the latest blow to the military's image. Yen and National Security Bureau Director-General Chiu Kuo-cheng told lawmakers Taiwan has 400,000 available troops and the Han Kuang exercise would be held in July. They also said Taiwan is trying to get an invitation to participate in August's Rim of the Pacific Exercise.
We have 400,000 available troops. Is that so? This is our available troop number. Aren't there trained reserve troops ready to go at any time? There seems to be a break in the middle. With regards to the actual number of soldiers this year, we have been performing reserve troops verification and strengthening our troops. That's right.
Yen did not answer questions on whether he would be replaced in the upcoming Cabinet reshuffle, saying his focus is on the naval cluster infection. Lawmakers expressed support for testing and medical facilities on military fleets and in military hospitals, but said more transparency and dialogue are needed in disease prevention.