Taipei’s largest wholesale fruit market is going to require proof of a negative rapid COVID-19 test for all people coming into the market beginning early Thursday morning.
The new rule comes as the Taipei Agricultural Products Marketing Corporation (TAPMC) saw 45 confirmed cases of COVID-19 between the end of May and June 14. These cases include 19 employees, seven delivery workers, and 19 fruit sellers.
There has been much public concern over the news of the wholesale fruit market cluster. The market said that 16 of their cases caught the virus in late May and have already recovered. All of its employees have also undergone a rapid COVID test.
Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je announced on Monday that all 4,000 Taipei Agricultural Products Marketing Corp. (TAPMC) employees, contractors and wholesalers will be vaccinated within three days. That’s due to fears that the cluster could spread to the whole island.
New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi said that New Taipei has seen 24 cases from this wholesale market cluster. On Tuesday, it will finish rapid testing of 2,200 people in contact with this market.
Beginning Thursday morning, Taipei’s First Fruits & Vegetables Wholesale Market and Second Fruits & Vegetables Wholesale Market will require proof of a negative rapid COVID test before entering the market.