Kaohsiung School Grapples with Positive Cases 高雄新增4例本土確診 其中3例為家庭群聚

Kaohsiung has four new cases, including three in a household cluster infection. The father and his elementary school twins all tested positive. Teachers and classmates at the children's regular school and cram school were tested, while the elementary school has closed for 10 days.

A hospital vehicle drives onto campus, where people are waiting in line with documents in their hands and medical personnel are carrying dividers. The school also broadcasted a message asking teachers and students from different classes to avoid mingling.
 

“The highest guiding principle is not having students leave their classrooms.”
Senior High School Student: “We need to order out. Only junior high school students are provided lunches.”

Teachers and students were warned against any unnecessary contact, and the cafeteria was closed and students were asked to get food delivered. This unusual situation resulted because Kaohsiung announced four new domestic cases, including a pair of twins who are first graders in the same class at the school. Their father, Case No. 23388, attended a wedding banquet in Taichung on March 26. This wedding banquet resulted in a cluster infection. The father took a self-paid test, which came back positive. He also infected his seven-year-old twins, who became Case No. 23493 and Case No. 23494. The mother was identified as a contact but her test came back negative.

Pan Chao-ying, Senior Specialist, Dept. of Health, Kaohsiung City: “We identified for testing classmates in the same class and the people they live with, and cram school classmates in the same class and the people they live with, and elementary and cram school teachers. ”

The Kaohsiung City Government tested 150 contacts of the twins, including teachers and classmates at their regular school and cram school. Results were negative. Testing was expanded at the elementary school, and the elementary school was closed for 10 days as a precautionary measure.

Chen Chi-mai, Mayor, Kaohsiung City: “The long weekend is almost here, so we took the precautionary measure of suspending classes for the elementary school.”

Kaohsiung City Mayor Chen Chi-mai said both twins had high Ct values, which shows the cases were found right after infection and therefore the risk of community transmission is low. However, testing will be expanded among potential contacts. Meanwhile, it was reported that Taipei City Mayor Ko Wen-je attended a Taiwan People's Party event in Kaohsiung on March 12 and did not wear a mask while singing in a group on stage.  

Chen Chi-mai, Mayor, Kaohsiung City: “We will handle this in accordance with procedures.”

Ko Wen-je, Mayor, Taipei City: “(You weren't wearing a mask while you were singing.) If they need to fine me, then go ahead.”

Ko attended a TPP event in Taichung on March 26 where he also didn't wear a mask. The Kaohsiung City Government said it will handle the alleged violation according to regulations and give Ko the opportunity to provide an explanation. The Taichung City Government has not made any decision yet.

醫院的工作車開進校園，另一頭則有人手拿資料排隊，還有醫事人員拿隔板，學校也廣播要師生避免非必要的跨班級活動。

「同學不離開教室為最高的指導原則。」校園廣播要師生別過多接觸，大學部的餐廳也不開放用餐，請學生自行訂外送。

確診學校高中部學生：「我們是要外訂，國中部一樣會有營養午餐。」

會這麼緊張是因為高雄在31日新增4例新冠肺炎本土病例，其中2例是讀小一的雙胞胎學童，兩人同校同班，因30多歲的父親案23388，26日參加過台中那場爆發群聚感染喜宴，機警自費採檢發現確診，也連帶傳染給2名7歲的孩子案23493、案23494，母親雖被匡列，但採檢陰性。

高雄市衛生局簡任技正潘炤穎說：「在校同班同學，以及我們直接跨到第二圈同住家人，還有補習班的同班同學，以及同住家人，以及在校還有補習班的老師這部份(都匡列)。」

市府也連夜採檢學童接觸過的補習班、學校等師生150多人，初步結果都是陰性，但上午還是到兩人就讀的學校擴大篩檢，也採取全校預防性停課10天。

高雄市長陳其邁表示：「現在馬上要春假，所以我們也採取預防性的停課，在國小的部分。」

兩名確診學童Ct值都很高，屬於剛發病就被發現，研判社區傳播風險不高，不過還是會持續擴大採檢可能的接觸者。

近來疫情升溫，台北市長柯文哲也被發現，12日到高雄參加民眾黨活動時，在台上群聚唱歌沒戴口罩，成為防疫破口。

陳其邁表示：「我們就依程序來辦理。」台北市長柯文哲也說：「該罰就罰，不然怎麼辦？」

不只在高雄，柯文哲在26日到台中參加民眾黨活動時，也同樣沒戴口罩。柯文哲面對違反防疫規定，坦然以對，高市表示會依法處理，讓柯文哲提出陳述，但台中市府尚未做出決定。