Taiwan to ease border controls, shorten quarantine for arrivals to 3 days

2022/06/15

Taiwan is set to ease border controls and shorten the quarantine period for arrivals from seven to three days as part of government efforts to maintain normal economic activity while preserving critical medical capacity, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center.
 
Under the new measure effective June 15, entrants to Taiwan will still need to present a negative COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction test result obtained within two days of their scheduled flight, the CECC said. Upon landing, passengers will have saliva samples collected to conduct another PCR test and those aged two and above will each receive two rapid self-test kits before heading to their planned quarantine location, the center added.
 
In addition to taking quarantine taxis, travelers can get picked up at the airport by family members, friends, or vehicles arranged through their companies or organizations as long as disease prevention protocols are followed, the CECC said.
 
According to the CECC, entrants should observe the rule of one person per residence at the quarantine location or stay in a designated quarantine hotel. They should undergo the three-day quarantine and the following four-day self-initiated epidemic prevention period in the same place, the center said.
 
During the four-day self-initiated epidemic prevention period, people can go out to work or buy necessities if they have obtained a negative rapid test result within 48 hours, the CECC said, adding that masks must be worn at all times and social distancing must be maintained.
 
They should avoid visiting crowded places or contact with nonspecific persons, and non-urgent medical services or examinations should be postponed, the center said.
 
Arrivals who must fulfill contractual business obligations are allowed to attend work, conduct site visits, give speeches and have meetings, the CECC said, adding that they may dine alone or with specific persons in a separated restaurant space with installed table dividers.
 
According to the CECC, migrant workers, fishermen and students, however, are not permitted to go to work or school due to the higher risk of cluster infections.
 
The CECC said a maximum of 25,000 arrivals per week will be allowed in the first stage, with new measures for transit passengers to be put forth by the Civil Aviation Administration under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications.


Source: Taiwan Today (https://taiwantoday.tw/index.php)