In an effort to curb the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, the Executive Yuan has approved a proposal to ban entry to Taiwan by certain travelers from China.
Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Vice Chairman Johnnason Liu (劉德勳) said that the ban on travelers from Guangdong Province, Shanxi Province, Inner Mongolia and Beijing would take effect immediately, given the deteriorating situation in those places.
However, Chinese spouses and children of Taiwanese who want to reunite with their family members in Taiwan will be exempt from the restriction, he said.
The Department of Health (DOH) had suggested that all trips between Taiwan and China, Hong Kong and Macau be suspended.
The DOH made the proposal after seven staff members at Taipei Municipal Hoping Hospital were found to have caught the disease on Tuesday night.
The Executive Yuan convened a meeting of the Council for Economic Planning and Development, MAC and the DOH to discuss the department's proposal.
After the meeting, Liu said that exchanges between Taiwan and China, Hong Kong and Macau are still possible.
Liu said that a decision on whether to suspend all cross-strait trips would be made based on how the epidemic developed.
He announced travel policies on three categories of people from China: tourists, professionals and visitors of relatives.
Taiwan would not impose specific travel restrictions for tourists who hold Hong Kong and Macau visas because information on SARS outbreaks in these areas is relatively transparent and their airports strictly screen passengers, Liu said.
Nevertheless, tourists from areas in China which the World Health Organization (WHO) has listed as SARS-affected areas would have to undergo "strict checks" before they are allowed to enter Taiwan, he said.
The WHO has listed Beijing, Guangdong, Hong Kong, Inner Mongolia and Shanxi as SARS-affected areas in China.
The MAC had already asked professionals from these areas to reconsider their trips to Taiwan.
If they still insist on continuing with their trips to Taiwan, the agencies in Taiwan that had invited them would need to take precautionary measures, Liu said.
Those visiting families and relatives are still permitted to enter Taiwan but their applications will be strictly examined, he said.
The MAC "suggested" all travelers to China voluntarily isolate themselves for seven to 10 days after returning. Their names will be provided to hospitals so that their conditions may be traced, Liu said.
Lee Lung-teng (
Lee said the proposal to totally suspend trips between Taiwan and China had presented a dilemma.
"If cross-strait trips are not suspended, the spread of SARS may further afflict Taiwan's economy and society," he said.
However, Lee said that considering the possible economic impact a complete suspension will have on the economy, the government had chosen to limit rather than completely suspend all cross-strait trips.
The MAC said the number of Taiwanese travelers to Hong Kong and Macau had dropped sharply since the SARS outbreak began.
From April 1 to April 17, about 52,000 Taiwanese people have traveled to Hong Kong and Macau. The number of Taiwanese travelers to these two areas in the same period last year was 180,000.
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