Gearing Up with Protective Measures, TOPTEAM’s Service As Usual
中國爆發嚴重特殊傳染性肺炎 (簡稱武漢肺炎) ，且疫情影響亞洲各國與國際交流，世界衛生組織已將此疫分類為全球大流行 (Pandemic) 疾病；台灣保持著持續與及時的因應，1月21日出現第一個確診個案前，各項防疫措施已迅速展開，目前政府單位，包含經濟部智慧局、法院等，均審慎應對並營運如常。冠群已備妥並落實各項防疫與管制措施，確保同仁健康與事務所正常營運，客戶權益不受影響。
Since the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak emerged in Wuhan China, this new disease has soon soared out of control and impacted neighboring countries and beyond. It has adversely affected trade and business activities in the region and now been officially classified as a “Pandemic” by WHO. Fortunately, the Taiwan government has rolled out preventive measures before the first imported case confirmed. All our government services, including the IP office and Courts, keep normal operation as usual with proper measures.
TOPTEAM keeps following the epidemic (now the pandemic) development and guidance from the government and has taken a series of precautionary measures to better protect our employees, ensure the smooth operation of our services and safeguard clients’ interests.
冠群全體同仁皆配合防疫調查，檢視個人健康狀態，並盤點個人旅遊史、接觸史，並掌握健康自主管理及相關通報時機。所內備置充分口罩與消毒清潔用品，環境定期消毒，降低人員聚集、暴露感染源可能性。目前本所全員工作如常，但為了確保同仁健康， 2 – 4 月間非必要的差旅規劃已儘可能取消。
All our employees have completed a Personal Health assessment for the health status, personal travel and contact history related since the end of January. We also keep our employees updating their personal health assessment records based on their exposure and travel activity and level up precaution to report illness or an incident over a reasonable suspicion.
TOPTEAM prepares sufficient quantities of surgical masks, disinfectants, and cleaning supplies; also raises the frequency of routine disinfection in our office while reducing unnecessary gathering activities/external meetings to minimize the risks of exposure to COVID-19 infection. Up to now, the operation of our firm continues as usual but we have canceled all international travel by May, to further eliminate health risks to our staff during this time.
各類客戶訪談、拜訪等，若情況允許一律改以視訊／電話會議進行，以減少群聚感染風險。對於必要業務拜訪，除了遵守客戶端的防疫規定，同仁全程配戴口罩，拜訪前後皆須洗手或酒精消毒。
Meetings with clients, foreign associates and vendors, if applicable, shall be held via video-conference or telephone. In the case of necessary visits to clients (or gathering), our attorneys and colleagues are advised to follow virus prevention rules and wash hands properly before and after said visits/meetings.
另由於近期多國亦爆發武漢肺炎疫情，冠群提高自我防護標準。辦公室同仁一天量測體溫2次，若發燒則在家休息，症狀解除後24小時方可回到辦公室。對於近期訪客（包括客戶、供應商、國外代理人等），冠群亦按主管機關建議，進行相應之健康管理。
What is more, as many countries have seen a spike in confirmed cases of COVID-19, TOPTEAM has stepped up our access control for employees returning from travel overseas. Employees are also asked to take two temperature checks a day. Anyone showing a symptom of acute respiratory illness will be advised to return and stay home until 24 hours after symptom-free without medication. Preventive measures for visitors (clients, suppliers, foreign associates, etc.) are also in place, according to the recommendations from the responsible authorities.
疫情影響所及的國家專利局及合作同業，冠群持續追蹤其運作情況，以及官方提出的救濟政策與措施，並確保我方能透過線上申辦、電話溝通與郵件遞送，正常完成專利、商標等智權代理業務，確保客戶權利不受影響。對於各類文件寄送可能延誤的案件，冠群隨時盤點清查，根據文件急迫性，逐一討論處理方案，必要時預先通知客戶採取其他權宜措施。
The current pandemic inevitably has a temporarily negative impact on many business operations in many countries, including that of our peers and counterparts. For this reason, TOPTEAM has kept a close watch on the service continuity of IP offices, our colleagues and alternatives available to fulfill our responsibilities and keep clients’ interests intact. Most work would be primarily processed by online submission, and the telephone communication, or postal services, would be taken if there is any need. We have been sorting out all the cases due in the near future; review progress one by one and take further action required early with clients’ informed consent.
冠群在台灣一切營運正常，全體同仁均健康平安。各項防疫措施皆會按最新政策指示與業務實際需求，進行更新調整，在充分保護冠群同仁的基礎上，持續維護客戶各國案件處理無虞。對於本所相關安排若有任何疑問，請不吝與本所聯絡。
TOPTEAM continues to provide high-quality services as usual, and all our employees are healthy and have remained uninfected. We will review and update our preventive measures according to the decisions taken by the responsible authorities and actual business needs. TOPTEAM will never compromise the health of our employees and the interests of our clients in all scenarios.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any question or request. And above all, we genuinely wish you and your loved ones good health!
