On February 3, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) reported that a large-scale cluster infection of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with unknown sources of infection occurred in Vietnam recently, and the Vietnamese authorities indicated there would be a risk of second wave of infection in the country. In consideration of the status of the COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam, the CECC has moved Vietnam to its list of medium-risk countries/regions from low-risk countries/regions.

Taiwan has jumped 20 places in the 2020 Democracy Index rankings to 11th position globally from 31st in 2019, to rank top in Asia, according to the index report released Tuesday by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).

Taiwan is willing and able to cooperate with like-minded members of the global community in defending freedom and democracy throughout the Indo-Pacific, according to Legislative Yuan President You Si-kun Feb. 2.

Taiwan will apply to join the free trade pact, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) at an appropriate time. That’s the word from foreign ministry spokesperson Joanne Ou on Tuesday. Ou was speaking in light of the UK’s recent application to join the CPTPP.

The health ministry says samples of imported frozen food all tested negative for COVID-19. The tests on over 400 food products included their inner and outer packets.

Taiwan is considering lifting the current entry ban on Indonesian migrant workers if demand for workers from the Southeast Asian country requires it, Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中), who heads the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC), said Tuesday.