All foreign nationals would be barred from entering Taiwan after midnight tonight, except for holders of the various Alien Resident Permits (ARCs), diplomats and a limited number of others, while all arrivals would be required to undergo a 14-day quarantine, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced this morning.
Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中), head of the center, said the move was necessary after a spike in confirmed cases of COVID-19 among Taiwanese who had recently returned from abroad.
A total of 23 new COVID-19 cases, 21 of which originated overseas, were confirmed today, bringing the total number in the nation to 100, after 10 cases, all imported, were reported on Tuesday.
Photo: Ann Wang, Reuters
Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) said some foreign nationals would not be subject to the ban, including ARC holders, those with documentation proving they are in Taiwan for diplomatic or other official purposes, those coming to fulfill business contractual obligations and those who have received special permits
The new entry restrictions would be subject to change, based on CECC directives, Wu said.
Chen said that anyone arriving from overseas — Republic of China citizens or authorized foreign nationals — would be required to be quarantined at home for 14 days.
In addition, anyone who arrived in Taiwan after being in or transiting through EU nations, Turkey or Dubai between March 3 and Sunday must quarantine themselves at home for 14 days, effective immediately, Chen said.
Those required to go into quarantine would receive NT$1,000 compensation per day from the government, Chen said.
These people should immediately contact their local township offices and report their travel history to the authorities, he added.
This story has been updated since it was first published.
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