Academia Sinica President Apologizes for Infection Incident 中研院立院報告 院長廖俊智向民眾致歉

An Academia Sinica research assistant did not follow Standard Operating Procedures and ended up infecting herself with COVID-19. Academia Sinica President James Liao apologized to the entire nation.

James Liao, President, Academia Sinica: “On behalf of Academia Sinica, I sincerely apologize.”

Academia Sinica President James Liao apologized to all of Taiwan and promised to quickly clarify the facts before heading into the legislature to deliver a report. An Academia Sinica research assistant recently failed to implement SOPs and ended up infecting herself with the Delta variant of COVID-19. Legislators had concerns that this incident also involved workplace bullying. According to reports, this research assistant was bitten by lab rats twice and went over the head of her boss to report it, but was treated improperly.

Lai Hui-yuan, Legislator (DPP): “She went over the head of her boss to report it, and the media interpreted it as workplace bullying. Was she subject to mental and physical trauma?”

Jan Jia-tsrong, Sr. Research Specialist, Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica: “First of all, there is absolutely no bullying in our laboratory. The issue is that this assistant had a different perception of her mistakes when managers pointed them out to her.”

After this incident came to light, the Central Epidemic Command Center tested the laboratory and found five locations where the virus was present, including table surfaces and door handles. An Academia Sinica report indicated this incident involved six shortcomings, including the research assistant being a new staff member and insufficient training. In addition, there were more researchers who didn't follow SOPs.

Chen Shih-chung, Health and Welfare Minister: “It all depends on the results of the investigation. No level of responsibility will be excluded. If someone needs to take responsibility, then that person will be punished. Everything will be handled according to the law.”

Health and Welfare Minister Chen Shih-chung said an investigation is clarifying doubts, and whoever needs to be punished will be punished. When asked if the alert level will be downgraded after the Lunar New Year, Chen said it's possible if the situation doesn't change, but further observation of the epidemic situation is needed.

 

「本人謹代表中央研究院，致以誠摯的歉意。」鞠躬致歉，並強調會儘快釐清事件真相! 中研院院長廖俊智13日週一到立法院進行專案報告前，先向全國民眾致歉，因為中研院前研究助理，疑似因未落實SOP而感染Delta變異株。有立委質疑，這起事件是否也涉及職場霸凌？因為這名研究助理曾遭實驗鼠咬傷，越級通報，卻遭不當對待。

民進黨立委賴惠員質疑:「因為她的越級上報，造成了在媒體上所謂的職場的霸凌，她受到了這個身心上的創傷，是不是呢？」

中研院基因體研究中心研究技師詹家琮回應:「首先我們實驗室絕對沒有霸凌這件事情，問題是這位助理，這位助理她的，對於她所犯的錯的事情，她長官對她指責的時候，她的認知不一樣罷了。」

中研院爆發人員確診後，疫情指揮中心在實驗室採檢，發現有5個地方呈現陽性反應，包括桌面、門把等，中研院報告也指出，這次確診事件有六大缺失，包括確診女研究助理是新進人員，操作訓練不足，而且不只她，其他研究人員也疑似沒有完整遵守SOP。

衛福部長陳時中回應:「這都要看調查的結果出來，不排除任何的層級，只要是有，誰該負責，該懲處，就是照法來做的事。」

陳時中強調，一切疑點都要由調查來釐清，且懲處不排除任何層級；至於春節過後是否降級？陳時中表示，如果狀況不變，有降級可能性，但還是要持續觀察疫情。