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Masks come off today as SARS abates
PRECAUTIONS WAIVED:
The DOH chief said people will still have to put up with having their temperature taken when boarding highway busses
STAFF WRITER
Thursday, Jun 26, 2003, Page 1
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"If the quarantine requirement for Chinese travelers is lifted abruptly, cross-strait traffic could dramatically increase from some 1,000 people to some 10, 000 people a day, which could create a mess for us."
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Chen Chien-jen, director general of the Department of Health
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Department Health Director-General Chen Chien-jen (³¯«Ø€¯) announced yesterday that as of today, passengers are no longer required to wear masks on trains, the MRT and freeway busses.
However, passengers' temperatures will continue to be taken before boarding highway busses, Chen said.
Stipulations the new policies are expected to be announced by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications today.
Chen announced that visitors arriving from Hong Kong and Macau no longer need to be quarantined for 10 days.
Although China has been removed from World Health Organization's (WHO) lists of travel warnings against SARS and SARS-affected areas, Chen insisted that Chinese travelers arriving in Taiwan through Hong Kong or Macau must still be quarantined.
"If the quarantine requirement for Chinese travelers is lifted abruptly, cross-strait traffic could dramatically increase from some 1,000 people to some 10, 000 people a day, which could create a mess for us," Chen said.
However, the decision on whether or not to continue with current measures will be made next week, Chen said.
Visas arrival for Hong Kong, Macau and Chinese visitors still will not be available through airlines, and airports will continue with SARS-prevention policies, Chen said.
Meanwhile, the Center of Disease Control expressed optimism that Taiwan could be removed from WHO's list of SARS-affected areas soon.
Center said yesterday if the same requirements that allowed Hong Kong and China to be removed from the WHO list of SARS-infected areas were applied, Taiwan could be removed from the list today.
Hong Kong and China were declared SARS-free by the WHO when no new SARS cases occurred within 20 days after the last discovered SARS victim went under quarantine.
The last patient diagnosed with SARS in Taiwan began quarantine on June 6. Today marks the 20th day after the patient went into quarantine.
No cases of SARS were reported yesterday for the ninth day running.
Also see story:
Industry celebrates end of quarantine
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