TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Four Taiwan Railways bento box shops in Taipei have suspended services until June 14 after a worker was confirmed to have contracted COVID-19.
The Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA) employee received a positive PCR test result on Tuesday (June 1). Three of the seven workers who have come into contact with the employee recently have tested negative, and the source of the infection has not been identified, reported the Liberty Times.
Two TRA shops at Taipei Main Station and one each at Nangang and Songshan stations have shuttered for disinfection as a precautionary measure. Only one location on the basement floor of Taipei Main Station remains open.
The signature meal boxes are prepared by two systems, one at the railway’s catering department and the other at its Taipei restaurant. The meals are available at stores in Taipei and Taoyuan.
Bento sales have suffered a slump since Taiwan went into Level 3 COVID restrictions in mid-May, leading to a drop in rail transport ridership. The company has mounted a campaign to offer hot deals for medical workers this month, and it is eyeing expanding bento availability via partnerships with Uber Eats and Foodpanda.



