Inbound travelers who need to change locations for the four-day self-disease prevention period following their three-day quarantine must apply with their local government, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said yesterday.
The “one person per household” principle would remain in place under the new “3+4” quarantine policy, which was implemented yesterday, the center said.
More than 4,500 incoming travelers were expected yesterday, including more than 980 people who entered Taiwan in the early morning, said Centers for Disease Control Deputy Director-General Philip Lo (羅一鈞), the CECC’s acting spokesman and medical response division deputy head.
Photo: CNA
Lo said many people had asked the CECC whether family members can return to the quarantine location to live with the traveler during their four-day self-disease prevention period.
That would not be allowed, Lo said, adding that new variants of SARS-CoV-2 pose too great of a risk to local communities.
Infected travelers might still be in the incubation period during the self-disease prevention period, so those quarantining at home are required to conform to the “one person per household” rule, he said.
Another newly implemented rule is that travelers can be picked up by friends or family members at the airport and take a private vehicle to their quarantine location, he said.
Those travelers should tick the “pick up by family’s or friends’ or facilities’ vehicle” box in the Quarantine System for Entry form and take personal protective measures in the private vehicle, Lo said.
Many people have also asked whether travelers can change locations between their quarantine and self-disease prevention periods, he said.
This would be possible as long as they conform to the “one person per household” principle and apply with the local government, he said.
The CECC advises travelers to stay in the same location throughout the seven days, but if they need to change locations, they should apply with the local government at their intended self-disease prevention location, Lo said.
They would have to sign a form and can only change location once, he said.
“Necessary outings” that are allowed during self-disease prevention include going to work, buying daily necessities, making visits, giving lectures and attending meetings based on contractual obligations, Lo said.
People must wear a mask at all times during those outings, practice social distancing, and avoid crowded spaces and direct contact with strangers, he said.
If a traveler who is staying at a quarantine hotel for self-disease prevention does not return during the night or has gone missing, the hotel is required to file a report with the local government the next morning, he said.
Those who breach self-disease prevention rules might face penalties based on the Communicable Disease Control Act (傳染病防治法), he said.
POLAM KOPITIAM CASE: Of the two people still in hospital, one has undergone a liver transplant and is improving, while the other is being evaluated for a liver transplant A fourth person has died from bongkrek acid poisoning linked to the Polam Kopitiam (寶林茶室) restaurant in Taipei’s Far Eastern Sogo Xinyi A13 Department Store, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said yesterday, as two other people remain seriously ill in hospital. The first death was reported on March 24. The man had been 39 years old and had eaten at the restaurant on March 22. As more cases of suspected food poisoning involving people who had eaten at the restaurant were reported by hospitals on March 26, the ministry and the Taipei Department of Health launched an investigation. The Food and
CHANGES: After-school tutoring periods, extracurricular activities during vacations or after-school study periods must not be used to teach new material, the ministry said The Ministry of Education yesterday announced new rules that would ban giving tests to most elementary and junior-high school students during morning study and afternoon rest periods. The amendments to regulations governing public education at elementary schools and junior high schools are to be implemented on Aug. 1. The revised rules stipulate that schools are forbidden to use after-school tutoring periods, extracurricular activities during summer or winter vacation or after-school study periods to teach new course material. In addition, schools would be prohibited from giving tests or exams to students in grades one to eight during morning study and afternoon break periods, the
Advocates of the rights of motorcycle and scooter riders yesterday protested in front of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications in Taipei, making three demands. They were joined by 30 passenger vehicles, which surrounded the ministry to make three demands related to traffic regulations — that motorcycles and scooters above 250cc be allowed on highways, that all motorcycles and scooters be allowed on inside lanes, and that driver and rider training programs be reformed. The ministry said that it has no plans to allow motorcycles on national highways for the time being, and said that motorcycles would be allowed on the inner
AMENDMENT: Contact with certain individuals in China, Hong Kong and Macau must be reported, and failure to comply could result in a prison sentence, the proposal stated The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) yesterday voted against a proposed bill by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers that would require elected officials to seek approval before visiting China. DPP Legislator Puma Shen’s (沈伯洋) proposed amendments to the Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area (臺灣地區與大陸地區人民關係條例), stipulate that contact with certain individuals in China, Hong Kong and Macau should be reported, while failure to comply would be punishable by prison sentences of up to three years, alongside a fine of NT$10 million (US$309,041). Fifty-six voted with the TPP in opposition