Chen Shih-chung

"The control and prevention of diseases and epidemics should go beyond boundaries."

"It's every country's responsibility to cooperate with one another for the sake of their citizens' health, and I believe that it is the international society's responsibility to make sure that Taiwan is not excluded from the global health system."

"Normal surgical masks are sufficient to guard against the (COVID-19) virus."

"We (Centers for Disease Control) are warning that anyone who refuses to cooperate with our quarantine officers or is disrespectful toward them (for the examination of COVID-19) will be strictly punished according to the law. Disease prevention is not a game, so we will impose the heaviest punishment for obstructing public officers in discharging their duties."

"A vaccine for the coronavirus is still being developed and that the main treatment right now is supportive care."

"The confirmed local (COVID-19 infection) cases (in Taiwan so far as of 5 February 2020) are mostly people who were infected overseas before returning to Taiwan and the only two indigenous cases are people who were infected by other members of their household. Therefore, the (Central Epidemic Command) center does not recommend foreign nationals traveling in Taiwan wear masks, but they can prepare masks and bring them on their own if they are concerned."

"I want to advise everyone to wear a face mask at all times when travelling in an aircraft and also in confined spaces such as inside airports (to protect oneself against COVID-19)."

"Every life is precious, and as the commander of the Central Epidemic Command Center, I am sorry. We feel that for every life we should do more, and we will try our best so this does not happen again (on the rising COVID-19 death toll in Taiwan)."