Masks would no longer be required on public transportation from April 17, pending unforeseen circumstances, although the mandate would remain for hospitals and other medical facilities, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said yesterday.
The nation has met the criteria to further relax COVID-19 restrictions, the center said at a weekly news conference.
Nearly 45 percent of the population has officially reported a COVID-19 infection, although the unofficial infection rate is likely to have exceeded 70 percent, the CECC said.
Photo: CNA
More than half of people aged 65 or older have received four doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, it added.
As of yesterday, those who have been isolated in hospital quarantine for COVID-19 can be released if no fever is present and symptoms are improving, the center said, adding that a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test result is not required, and 10 days of self-health management is recommended.
People who are hospitalized for other reasons must still comply with a hospital’s COVID-19 protocols upon being released from quarantine, it added.
PCR tests are not recommended for hospital or emergency room admissions if the symptoms are unrelated to COVID-19, the CECC said.
Also withdrawn from the center’s recommendations are discretionary weekly testing of people who have been admitted to a hospital for more than three days, and of presurgery patients and their companions, it said.
Patients that need additional care, including children aged up to 12, people aged 65 or older, the mentally or physically impaired, and other special-needs patients, would be allowed two companions during their stay at hospitals, it said.
However, still in effect is a restriction that no more than one person accompany a hospitalized person, while those who are visiting a patient are requested to take a rapid test at home before going to the hospital, it said.
Exemptions are in effect for family members who need to be briefed on a patient’s condition or to visit the terminally ill, the CECC said.
Separately, the application process for prospective Chinese visitors has been simplified, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said on Thursday.
Chinese wishing to visit Taiwan to seek medical services, visit relatives or conduct business must submit applications to the relevant government agencies, although final approval from the CECC is no longer required, MAC Deputy Minister Jan Jyh-horng (詹志宏) told a news conference.
Additional reporting by CNA
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