Vietnam off quarantine list, Macau guidelines issued

The Mainland Affairs Council yesterday announced that visitors from Vietnam have been excluded from the government's compulsory-quarantine list as the World Health Organization (WHO) had lifted its advisory against travel to that country because it has successfully contained severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

Council Vice Chairman Johnnason Liu (劉德勳) also announced details of compulsory isolation measures for residents and travelers arriving from Macau, as part of the government's efforts to halt the spread of SARS.

Vietnam was originally included on the list announced Monday by the Civil Aeronautics Administration. Residents and travelers from China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Toronto, Canada stayed on the list for compulsory quarantine.

While stressing that Macau is not a SARS-affected area and therefore residents and travelers from the former Portuguese colony are not subjected to mandatory quarantine measures, Liu said there are certain guidelines for people traveling from the territory.

"Although Macau has not reported any SARS cases, a loophole could threaten our efforts against SARS if anyone traveling to Taiwan, via Macau, from areas where SARS-epidemic situations have not yet been alleviated," Liu said.

The council has therefore laid out a set of measures for all residents, travelers and flight crew from Macau, Liu said.