Taiwan will not relax its strict border control measures until the national vaccination rate rises, the head of the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said Wednesday.
As part of Taiwan’s COVID-19 control measures, its borders have been closed to non-nationals, except for those who have residency or special permission to enter since March 19, 2020.
The country further tightened quarantine rules starting this June, requiring everyone arriving to undergo a mandated two-week quarantine period either at a government facility or a quarantine hotel, to prevent the spread of the Delta variant of the virus in Taiwan.
Previously, arrivals from non-high risk countries could stay at their residences in Taiwan for the compulsory two-week quarantine period.
Asked whether Taiwan will consider relaxing some epidemic control rules, after the country reported zero new locally transmitted coronavirus cases on Wednesday, the first time since it experienced a surge in mid-May, CECC head and Health Minister Chen Shih-chung (???) said now is not the time.
“Of course we wish to relax some of these quarantine rules, but the point is we in Taiwan must have stronger protection first,” he said, adding that only when the nation’s vaccination rate is higher will the CECC consider easing some of the border rules.
However, Chen did not specify what vaccination rate would be necessary for quarantine rules to be relaxed.
Currently, around 40 percent of Taiwan’s population of 23.5 million people have received a first vaccine shot, but less than 3 percent have had the two shots needed to be fully vaccinated.
According to experts, Taiwan will need to vaccinate at least 60 percent of its population to achieve herd immunity and safely reopen to the outside world.
In addition, the CECC said it expects to lower the classifications for Taipei and New Taipei cities later this week from the existing high-to-moderate risk of COVID-19 infection to moderate risk.
The two northern cities have reported more than 90 percent of all COVID-19 cases in the country after recording a surge in cases starting mid-May.
As the domestic outbreak has come more or less under control over the past few weeks, the CECC is expected to lower the COVID-19 risk classification for Taipei and New Taipei and allow family members of long-term care center resident in the two cities to visit their relatives, starting Aug. 31.
They have not been permitted to do so since May.
Meanwhile, Taipei announced that exercise equipment in public parks sealed off since May will reopen starting Thursday, though people using it will still have to wear masks and maintain social distancing.
Venues will also open to people playing basketball, volleyball and handball, starting Sept. 1., the city government said.
Kaohsiung City in the south also said it will open local borough activity centers for some courses, as well as outdoor hot springs and SPA pools, starting Sept. 1, though people visiting these sites still need to wear face masks at all time.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel