Clinics, schools adjust as Taiwan lifts self-isolation requirement for mild cases
Clinics, schools adjust as Taiwan lifts self-isolation requirement for mild cases
2023-03-20
Mild COVID cases are exempt from self-isolation, starting Monday. Employees and students can still take leave with proof of a positive COVID test. At one primary school in Taipei, parents had fears that infection would spread faster under the new policy. School administrators advise those who test positive to still stay home and rest. ##
Taiwan has ended mandatory self-isolation for mild COVID cases. But students who test positive can still take leave, without being marked absent or having their grades affected. Parents can also take pandemic care leave.
Parent
There might be a positive COVID case that others are unaware of. Without a mask on, it’s easier to spread the infection.
Parent
Of course we still worry. It’s more dangerous for the children when they’re not wearing masks.
These parents have qualms about their kids going mask-free. Even under the new policy, if sick teachers can’t work from home, they’re still able to take sick leave. With parents anxious over Taiwan’s policy change, one Taipei school still wants positive COVID cases to stay home.
Shih Fu-i
Guangfu Elementary School teacher
If I don’t have any obvious symptoms, I might still choose to come to work. However, if I have more obvious symptoms like a fever or a cough, I will take leave and stay home.
Lai Chun-hsien
Guangfu Elementary School principal
They should rest at home if they can.
The school says that students who do attend class won’t be seated apart, to prevent flagging them as a positive case. With the policy change, isolation and case reporting are no longer required. Once again, COVID patients can receive in-person medical treatment.
Benches are placed outside the clinic. Patients with symptoms are sent to this area, and doctors step out to provide care.
Chou Tzung-han
Traditional Chinese medicine physician
Actually most clinics have this sort of arrangement for patient flow. Some clinics are diagnosing and treating patients outdoors. With the pandemic subsiding, such arrangements will gradually be phased out.
Taiwan’s COVID rules are easing, with case reporting, notification, and follow-up protocols lifted for all mild cases on Monday. However, provisions on free COVID medication and hospitalization will stay unchanged.
今起輕症免隔離 診所分流"有症狀戶外看診"
2023-03-20
輕症免隔離今天上路，持陽性證明還是可以請假，台北市有國小也建議師生確診就在家休息。另外像是看診也從視訊恢復到實體，有診所進行分流，如果民眾有症狀就會在戶外進行看診。
20日起輕症免隔離，不過學生持陽性證明，還是可以請假，不列出缺席紀錄和評量成績，家長也可以請防疫照顧假。
[[學生家長]]
“可能有人確診我們不知道，他當然沒戴口罩，就比較容易傳染。”
[[學生家長]]
“當然還是會擔心，小朋友沒戴口罩比較危險。”
家長多少還是會擔心，沒戴口罩有風險。另外，老師如果沒辦法線上教學或居家辦公，也可以請病假，雖說要回歸正常生活，但就怕家長有疑慮，像北市光復國小校方，還是建議確診請假休息。
[[北市光復國小老師 施馥宜]]
“症狀不明顯，我可能還是會選擇來上班，如果症狀比較明顯，發燒、咳嗽這些，還是會請假在家。”
[[北市光復國小校長 賴俊賢]]
“就是盡量在家休息。”
即便堅持來上課，校方強調也不會刻意將學生座位隔開，避免標籤化。現在不用隔離、通報，確診就醫也恢復實體診療。
診所外擺椅子，有症狀直接分流，由醫師走出戶外看診配藥。
[[中醫師 周宗翰]]
“其實大部分診所都有這類型分流，有些診所會直接在戶外看診，因為隨著疫情結束，這樣狀況會慢慢減少。”
防疫措施逐步放寬，即日起通報、簡訊、疫調回報等等規範都取消。不過像是公費口服抗病毒藥物、清冠一號以及住院相關規定還是維持。
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