Travelers to be barred from transiting through Taiwan airports

ROC Central News Agency

03/22/2020 05:31 PM

Taipei, March 22 (CNA) Travelers will not be allowed to transit through airports in Taiwan starting March 24, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced Sunday, in what is the country's latest travel restriction to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The new policy, which will apply to all travelers who board their planes after midnight Monday Taiwan time, is temporarily scheduled to last for two weeks until April 7, the CECC said.

The ban's aim is to reduce cross-border movements of people and lessen the risk of further spread of the disease, said Health Minister Chen Shih-chung (陳時中), who also heads the CECC, at a daily press conference.

The CECC also called for those returning from abroad to follow related COVID-19 prevention measures.

These include filling out a health declaration form at customs, undergoing the required 14-day self-quarantine, and reporting to health authorities if they show any symptoms within two weeks of returning to Taiwan, the CECC said.

Also on Sunday, the CECC confirmed 16 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number in the country to 169 since the outbreak began.

(By Chen Wei-ting, Chang Hsiung-feng and Chiang Yi-ching)

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