People would be allowed to temporarily take off their masks on Taipei’s MRT metropolitan railway system, Taipei Rapid Transit Corp said yesterday.
People would be allowed to remove their masks for eating or drinking in areas where that is permitted, as long as they can keep a safe social distance from others, the MRT operator said.
In general, mask wearing would still be required inside stations and trains, and those who contravene the rule would be fined up to NT$15,000 and banned from the premises, it said, adding that the rule update is in line with policies by the Central Epidemic Command Center and the Taipei City Government.
Photo: CNA
Designated street dance areas in MRT stations and MRT malls would be divided into segments to help people maintain social distance, the operator said.
Users of the areas would only be allowed to take off their masks while dancing, it said, adding that they would be required to scan a contact tracing QR code before entering.
Water fountains and some facilities for charging mobile devices inside stations would be reopened, with a limit of one user per charging station to avoid crowding, it said.
The Taipei Children’s Amusement Park, which is run by the MRT firm, would operate at a capacity of 16,000 people, it said.
The firm has added a “crowd traffic light” system to the park’s Web site, which would flash “orange” when the facility has 9,600 visitors, or 60 percent of capacity, and “red” when the crowd size limit has been reached, it said.
Visitors would have to scan the contact tracing QR code before entering, it said, urging visitors to comply with body temperature measurement and social distancing requirements.
Visitors would only be allowed to take off their masks when eating, drinking or taking a picture, it added.
The Taipei Arena Ice Land and the Taipei Metro Beitou Resort have removed their crowd size limits, but the resort would continue to operate on a reservation-only basis, the MRT operator said.
Visitors to the two sites would have to wear masks, except for when exercising, it added.
Beijing could eventually see a full amphibious invasion of Taiwan as the only "prudent" way to bring about unification, the US Department of Defense said in a newly released annual report to Congress. The Pentagon's "Annual Report to Congress: Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China 2025," was in many ways similar to last year’s report but reorganized the analysis of the options China has to take over Taiwan. Generally, according to the report, Chinese leaders view the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) capabilities for a Taiwan campaign as improving, but they remain uncertain about its readiness to successfully seize
Taiwan is getting a day off on Christmas for the first time in 25 years. The change comes after opposition parties passed a law earlier this year to add or restore five public holidays, including Constitution Day, which falls on today, Dec. 25. The day marks the 1947 adoption of the constitution of the Republic of China, as the government in Taipei is formally known. Back then the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) governed China from Nanjing. When the KMT, now an opposition party in Taiwan, passed the legislation on holidays, it said that they would help “commemorate the history of national development.” That
Trips for more than 100,000 international and domestic air travelers could be disrupted as China launches a military exercise around Taiwan today, Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) said yesterday. The exercise could affect nearly 900 flights scheduled to enter the Taipei Flight Information Region (FIR) during the exercise window, it added. A notice issued by the Chinese Civil Aviation Administration showed there would be seven temporary zones around the Taiwan Strait which would be used for live-fire exercises, lasting from 8am to 6pm today. All aircraft are prohibited from entering during exercise, it says. Taipei FIR has 14 international air routes and
The Ministry of National Defense (MND) today released images of the military tracking China’s People's Liberation Army (PLA) movements during the latest round of Chinese drills around Taiwan. The PLA began "Justice Mission 2025" drills today, carrying out live-fire drills, simulated strikes on land and maritime targets, and exercises to blockade the nation's main ports. The exercises are to continue tomorrow, with the PLA announcing sea and air space restrictions for five zones around Taiwan for 10 hours starting from 8:30am. The ministry today released images showing a Chinese J-16 fighter jet tracked by a F-16V Block 20 jet and the