A Kiwi pilot believed to be the source of a cluster of COVID-19 cases in Taiwan is facing extreme backlash after health officials announced a close contact of the man had tested positive - the country's first locally-acquired case since April.
On Sunday (local time), Taiwan's Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced that two cases - cargo aircraft pilots - were believed to have been infected by a Kiwi aviator, referred to by local health officials as case 765, who is employed by Taiwanese airline EVA Air.
CECC spokesman Chuang Jen-hsiang told reporters the man had travelled to the US in late November, where it's believed he contracted the virus. After completing three days of quarantine upon his return to Taiwan, the man embarked on a four-day trip around the north of the country from December 8 to December 11. It's understood he was infectious during this period.
On December 12, the Kiwi flew back to the US with the two pilots, and reportedly did not wear a mask for the duration of the flight. One of the co-pilots, a Taiwanese woman in her 30s, was the first to test positive. The Kiwi and the other pilot, a Japanese man in his 20s, were subsequently tested as close contacts.
In a statement on Tuesday (local time), the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC) confirmed that the Kiwi aviator, who is reportedly a Taiwanese resident, had also infected a woman in her 30s, referred to as case 771 - Taiwan's first locally-acquired case since April.
A rough translation of the statement said the man "could not recall [his] exact history of activities" and failed to inform health officials "he had been in contact with case 771".
An investigation into the man's movements by the health department and police found he had visited several public places between December 8 and December 12, including a Costco in Taoyuan City and the department store Mitsukoshi.
Health officials are now warning locals to seek a test if they begin presenting symptoms consistent with COVID-19 before December 25.
The statement says 167 contacts of the new locally-acquired case have been identified, and 87 people have been tested in connection to the pilot cluster.
According to Tuesday's statement from the CDC, the Kiwi pilot's "failure to honestly inform" officials of his "contact history and activity history" may violate Taiwan's Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Law. Under Article 43 of the legislation, patients with infectious diseases "shall not refuse, evade or hinder" relevant investigations. A breach of the law is punishable by a fine of NT$60,000 - NT$300,000 (NZ$3028 - NZ$15,142).
According to Channel News Asia's (CNA) English-language news website, Focus Taiwan, the Kiwi pilot has since been fined NT$300,000 for failing to provide comprehensive information to health officials during their investigation.
Taipei-based journalist William Yang, who has been covering the developments via Twitter, tweeted a CNA article reporting that the pilot's employer, the Taiwanese international airline EVA Air - which operates both passenger and cargo services - will fire the man if it's found he violated quarantine protocol.
"He... claimed that he didn't remember the exact places that he had been to during the period of time that he was roaming around the country, likely not following the social-distancing rules or wearing masks, and now one of his friends has been tested positive," Yang tweeted.
The announcement that Taiwan had recorded its first locally-acquired case in more than 200 days sparked outrage on social media, with Taiwanese locals calling for a harsher punishment to be imposed on the New Zealander.
"He really has become public enemy number one here, everyone is mad and super frustrated with him," one tweeted.
"He should be fired and his residence permit removed. Unbelievable behaviour," said another.
"Thanks to nasty #pilot from #NewZealand who didn't follow the #pandemic #rules," one man tweeted. "Shame on you."
According to Yang, the local government has since announced that all outdoor group gatherings at Taipei's Christmas City area will be suspended.
"Taiwan health authorities have already launched its signature 'contact tracing' method to try to locate everyone that the NZ pilot has come in contact with, as well as all people that the newly infected individual [has] come in contact with."
Outrage has similarly been expressed on Reddit, with one user commenting: "This a**hole of a pilot may single-handedly be responsible for destroying the quality of life for tens of millions of people... I mean honestly, refusing to wear a mask and refusing to cooperate with authorities to contact trace. What the f***."
