Taiwan to lessen Restrictions for Business travelers come March

Last Thursday, Taiwan announced plans to reopen its borders to business travelers and shorten quarantine for all arrivals. Earlier in the pandemic, the country was praised for how it limited its COVID-19 cases. However, an outbreak last April forced the island to implement harsher restrictions. The restrictions included banning all foreign visitors, except for residency holders and diplomats.

Although, as the pandemic nears its end Taiwan’s Central Epidemic Command Center said that it would ease regulations beginning early March.

“We will open to foreign businesspeople starting March 7 in line with some relaxations in the overall pandemic prevention measures,” said Chen Tsung-yen, deputy head of the CECC.

As part of the reforms, Chinese, Hong Kong, and Macau residents can apply for entry to fulfill business contracts. Business visitors are required to apply in person with the country’s de facto embassies, while Chinese nationals must apply via local-host companies to the National Immigration Agency. Furthermore, as of March 7, the 14-day mandatory quarantine will be cut to 10 days, with a week of home monitoring.

According to Taiwan authorities, mask mandates and a few other restrictions will be eased starting March 1.

“We had some domestic cluster infections before Lunar New Year but the number of local cases continued to fall in recent weeks,” said Chou Jih-haw, head of the CECC’s disease surveillance division. “The domestic situation is stable and under control,” he added.

While it is still unclear as to when Taiwan might transition to the living with COVID mindset, the country still sees a low number of cases with almost zero deaths.

Source: ABS-CBN