Taiwan to extend ban on transit passengers, cross-strait flights

ROC Central News Agency

04/23/2020 07:13 PM

Taipei, April 23 (CNA) Taiwan will maintain its restrictions on flights to and from China and its entry ban on transit passengers after the initial end date later this month, as the COVID-19 pandemic is showing no signs of abating, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said Thursday.

The suspension of flights between Taiwan and most of China, which was initially implemented from February Feb. 10 to April 29, will be extended to an indefinite date, depending on how the pandemic situation develops, the CECC said.

Currently, Taiwan allows cross-strait flights to and from only five destinations in China - Beijing; Pudong and Hongqiao in Shanghai; Xiamen in Fujian; and Chengdu in Sichuan.

The CECC said its ban on the entry of airline transit passengers, which was imposed March 24 to April 7, will also be extended indefinitely.

The travel restrictions are being maintained as part of the government's efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19, which has peaked in Europe and the United States and continues to spread across Asia and Central and South America, the CECC said.

In its daily news briefing, the CECC gave a reminder that all arriving passengers are required to self-quarantine for 14 days, regardless of their nationality or travel origin.

Arriving passengers who have symptoms such as a cough or fever are required to immediately notify the quarantine authorities at Taiwan's airports and seaports, the CECC said.

It also reminded everyone in the country to wash their hands regularly, maintain the recommended social distancing, and wear a face mask in public and in confined spaces.

As of Thursday, Taiwan had 427 cases of COVID-19, with 6 deaths, according to the CECC. Globally, the number of cases had reached 2,647, 349, with 184,386 fatalities, international data showed.

(By Evelyn Kao)

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