TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (TECRO) will only provide services from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m from next Monday (Jan.10) due to 10 confirmed COVID cases among staff.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) announced Monday (Jan. 3) that five cases have been confirmed at TECRO, added to the five previously confirmed cases. TECRO's service hours will be adjusted for the sake of public health, MOFA said.

The agency added that collection and pick-up are only available from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. starting next Monday, as the office will not open to the public in the afternoon. Use of postal services is encouraged as an alternative.

MOFA pointed out that except for one who is in hospital, the cases are in home quarantine and have mild or no symptoms. TECRO has arranged for those who have had contact with the confirmed cases to undergo nucleic acid tests (PCR) and will continue to monitor the health status of the staff concerned.