Taiwan’s Executive Yuan held a meeting on Thursday (22nd) to discuss when to open the border. After the meeting, it was decided that the first phase will increase the total number of entries to 60,000 per week from the 29th of this month, restore the reciprocal visa exemption of various countries, and cancel the entry collection. The deep throat saliva PCR test is changed to rapid test, etc. The second phase plans to increase the number of people entering the country and other related measures, and the implementation time depends on the epidemic situation. Executive President Su Zhenchang expects that the second phase will be implemented around the 13th of next month, with 150,000 people entering the country every week and the “0+7” measures for entry quarantine.
Su Zhenchang said that in the first phase, in addition to increasing the number of people entering the country, the 3-day quarantine and 4-day autonomous epidemic prevention premises will be opened for one person and one room, and quick screening will be carried out on the day of entry and when the quarantine period expires on the third day. In response to preparations, the Ministry will take measures to adjust and convert. He also pointed out that after the implementation, the changes in the epidemic situation will be observed for a week. If the research and judgment are under control as expected, the “0+7” will be officially implemented after a two-week notice, and the second phase will also open visa-free countries to enter, and Lift the ban on tour groups.
In an exclusive interview with a radio program earlier on the same day, Wang Bisheng revealed that the entry quarantine “0+7” will be implemented before the middle of next month, and in response to tourists coming to Taiwan, dining out and public transportation will be open during the next 7 days of self-epidemic prevention. Wait. He also pointed out that the border PCR test will be changed to a rapid test, and inbound passengers will receive 4 doses of rapid test, which will be used during the 7-day self-management period, and will also be open to free travel, but the timetable is yet to be determined. Regarding the reciprocal visa exemption provided to 66 countries by Taiwan in the past, he said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had previously resumed measures for 54 countries, and the rest will resume; as for countries without reciprocal visa exemption, general visit and tourist visas will be opened, while land, Hong Kong and Macao regions will To be assessed by the MAC.
The command center originally expected the peak of the epidemic to fall this week or next week, but the number of new local cases on Wednesday (21st) decreased by 6% compared with last Wednesday, indicating that the epidemic may have peaked last week. Wang Bisheng said that it is necessary to observe for another week to determine whether the peak of the epidemic has passed. The pre-announcement of border opening measures is for the public and the hotel industry to prepare. He also pointed out that the mask measures will be lifted later, but it will also be carried out in stages.
Further reading:The government is reported to announce as soon as next week that hotel quarantine will be lifted and replaced by “0+7”