The Civil Aeronautics Administ-ration (CAA) announced yesterday details of compulsory isolation measures for travelers and aircrew arriving from Hong Kong, Macao, Vietnam, Singapore and Toronto, Canada, as part of the government's efforts to halt the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
The agency's statement set out the details of the Executive Yuan's decision Sunday night to impose isolation measures on all travelers and flight crew from the five areas as of midnight Sunday.
Later yesterday Hsu Kwo-hsiung (
Although the World Health Organization yesterday lifted its advisory against travel to Vietnam -- saying that the country has successfully contained SARS -- the Department of Health said yesterday that Vietnam will remain on its list for now.
The CAA said it has informed all related airlines of the isolation measures and asked them to let their passengers know about the measures when they arrive to check-in so people can decide whether they still want to travel to Taiwan.
The CAA said the measures will affect travelers and flight crew differently.
All travelers, whether Taiwanese or foreigners, who are from Hong Kong, Macao, Vietnam, Singapore or Toronto or have been traveling via these areas must be sent to designated hotels for a 10-day isolation after arrival.
However, Taiwanese and Hong Kong citizens are allowed to choose home quarantine instead of a hotel stay.
These people will be given home-quarantine notices, issued by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), which they must present to their village or borough wardens, local health departments or employers. They will be put under 10-day home isolation after registering with these agencies.
As for aircrew, all Taiwanese crewmembers must go to the designated hotels upon arrival. They will be allowed to continue serving on flights to the five-affected areas but if they have no subsequent flights scheduled, they must serve a 10-day domestic quarantine.
Foreign crewmembers must go to the designated hotels directly after arrival, although they are allowed to leave the country the following day to continue their flight duties.
According to the CAA, the government will pay for accommodation, food and laundry fees for all travelers and flight crews quarantined in the designated hotels.
A CAA official said as of 2pm yesterday, only seven flights from Hong Kong, Macao or Singapore had arrived at Taiwan.
"Four arrived at the CKS International Airport and three at the Kaohsiung Airport. All of the passengers and aircrew have been quarantined," the official said.
The official said the authorities did not encounter resistance from either travelers or flight crew and that the new measures have not noticeably reduced flights between Taiwan and the five areas.
"Flights between Taiwan and the areas have been decreasing since the outbreak of SARS. The new measures have not caused many flight cancellations," the official said.
Passengers returning to Taiwan under the "small three links" must be quarantined for 10 days.
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