29 Nov 2022 | 06:48 AM UTC
Taiwan: Authorities to further ease COVID-19 measures from Dec. 1 /update 77
Taiwan to ease COVID-19 facemask rules from Dec. 1, and lift international arrival limits from Dec. 10. Border open with no quarantine.
Event
The government in Taiwan will ease some domestic COVID-19 measures from Dec. 1. Facemasks will no longer be mandatory outdoors and in open spaces, other than on public transport. Individuals in private vehicles also do not need to wear facemasks if traveling alone or with household members. Facemasks will continue to be compulsory in indoor settings, with approved exceptions. Residents are advised to carry a facemask when leaving home. Effective Dec. 10, authorities will also lift the arrival cap for entrants to Taiwan.
Domestic Measures
Exemptions for facemasks indoors include sports competitions, exercise, and singing, among others. Local governments can adjust measures depending on COVID-19 activity. Individuals violating facemask requirements may face fines up to NTD 15,000.
The self-quarantine period for locally acquired COVID-19 cases is five days. People that receive a negative rapid antigen test (RAT) result on day five do not have to practice self-health management. Individuals that test positive must practice self-health management until they receive a negative RAT result or reach seven days of self-quarantine.
Household contacts of COVID-19 cases do not have to self-quarantine, but they must continue self-health monitoring for seven days. Asymptomatic close contacts can continue to enter the public provided they have a negative RAT result within the previous 48 hours.
Workers in high-risk industries, such as healthcare employees, aircrew, police, and teachers, no longer need to have a third vaccine dose or receive a negative RAT result. Businesses must limit capacity to one person per 2.25 square meters (24 square feet) indoors and one person per square meter (10 square feet) outdoors. Companies must continue to permit employees to work from home when possible and stagger working hours. Visitors to entertainment venues, like bars and nightclubs, must present a COVID-19 vaccine pass proving they are fully vaccinated to enter the premises. Individuals and organizations that violate business closure orders and gatherings rules face fines of up to NTD 300,000.
International Travel Restrictions
Taiwan permits entry for all passengers without quarantine. However, entrants must conduct seven-day self-health monitoring; travelers should wear facemasks in public and take a RAT every 48 hours. Recent arrivals must limit exposure to high-risk people and cannot visit medical facilities for non-urgent care, with exceptions.
Officials permit cruise ships. The government restricts international arrivals to 150,000 people weekly; the limit will no longer apply from Dec. 10. However, flights to mainland China remain restricted indefinitely; airlines can only fly to airports in Beijing (PEK), Shanghai (SHA, PVG), Xiamen (XMN), and Chengdu (CTU).
Advice
Follow all official instructions. Allow additional time for health screenings when arriving in or traveling across Taiwan.
