Image: Reuters Berita 24 English - Taiwan announced on Saturday that it will reduce the necessary quarantine period for all arrivals from s...
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| Image: Reuters |
Berita 24 English - Taiwan announced on Saturday that it will reduce the necessary quarantine period for all arrivals from seven to three days. This is the latest modification of the country's restrictions in an effort to live with COVID-19 and resume regular life despite an outbreak of diseases.
Taiwan has maintained its quarantine regulations while significant portions of the rest of Asia have loosened or eliminated them entirely, though in May it reduced the number of days spent in isolation for arrivals from 10 to 7.
Since the beginning of the year, Taiwan has reported more than 2,7 million domestic cases, led by the more infectious Omicron strain. In light of the fact that more than 99 percent of individuals infected showed no or mild symptoms, the government has loosened rather than tightened restrictions under the so-called "new Taiwan model."
The Central Epidemic Command Centre of Taiwan said that the new, shortened quarantine regulation would begin on Wednesday.
After leaving quarantine, individuals must continue to monitor their health for an additional four days and, if feasible, remain inside.
The decision was reached "considering the international and domestic pandemic scenario and epidemic preventive and medical capabilities, as well as to boost economic and social activities and required foreign exchanges," according to the centre.
All arrivals must continue to have negative pre-departure PCR tests.
The government reports that the current internal COVID-19 outbreak is receding, but it has not yet reopened its borders fully.
Taiwanese citizens and foreign residents have never been barred from departing and reentering the country; nonetheless, they have been required to quarantine at home or in hotels.
Prior to the epidemic, Taiwan was a major tourist destination for primarily Asian travellers, with Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia constituting the largest markets.
