People, wearing face masks to limit the spread of the coronavirus, wait at a food counter in Taipei, Taiwan on April 19, 2022.
Annabelle Chih | Reuters
Taiwan on Saturday said it would cut the mandatory quarantine for all arrivals from seven days to three, easing its latest regulation to try to live with Covid-19 and resume life. live a normal life even as it is dealing with an increase in infections.
Taiwan has kept its quarantine rules in place as much of the rest of Asia has relaxed or lifted it entirely, although in May it cut the number of quarantine days for arrivals from 10 days. earlier down to 7 days.
Taiwan has reported more than 2.7 million cases in the country since the start of the year, due to the more contagious Omicron variant. But with more than 99% of them showing no or mild symptoms, the government has eased rather than tightened restrictions in what it calls the “new Taiwan model”.
Taiwan’s Central Epidemic Command Center said the new regulation, reducing quarantine will start from Wednesday.
After leaving the quarantine, people will have to continue to monitor their health for another four days and avoid going out if possible, it added.
The center said the move was made “considering the domestic and international epidemic situation, epidemic prevention and health capacity, and promoting economic, social and communication activities.” necessary international traffic”.
All arrivals must still have a negative PCR test prior to departure. The government says the current domestic Covid-19 wave is waning, but has yet to fully reopen its borders.
Taiwanese citizens and foreign residents have never been barred from leaving and then re-entering, despite having to be isolated at home or in a hotel.
Before the pandemic, Taiwan was a popular tourist destination for mainly Asian tourists, with Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asia being the most important markets.
