Don’t Go Abroad, Taiwan Says as It Reports First Double-Digit Rise in Virus Cases

Don’t Go Abroad, Taiwan Says as It Reports First Double-Digit Rise in Virus Cases
Local residents line up to buy face masks, amid concerns of the COVID-19 coronavirus, from a pharmacy in New Taipei City, Taiwan, on March 17, 2020. Sam Yeh/AFP via Getty Images
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TAIPEI—Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen asked people on March 17 not to travel abroad to ensure the coronavirus is not brought back to the island, as the government announced its first double-digit rise in cases, all imported from overseas.

Taiwan has won plaudits from health experts for its efforts to effectively control the spread of the virus, but it is now reporting daily rises in cases from people returning to the island from other countries.