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Taiwan mulls further loosening of quarantine rules for Lunar New Year

ROC Central News Agency

11/10/2021 07:35 PM

Taipei, Nov. 10 (CNA) Travelers coming to Taiwan ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday could enjoy even looser quarantine rules than previously announced, allowing them to spend only seven days in a designated quarantine facility and the remaining seven days of the quarantine period at home.

Currently, all travelers to Taiwan have to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival at either a government facility or a designated hotel to prevent the potential spread of COVID-19.

However, as a large number of overseas Taiwanese are expected to return home for the Lunar New Year holiday, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said on Nov. 1 that between Dec. 14, 2021, and Feb. 14, 2022, travelers from non-high-risk countries can follow a looser "10+4" plan for quarantine.

Under the plan, people will be able to spend only the first 10 days of quarantine at a hotel or government-run facility, while the final four days can be spent at a residence in Taiwan.

At present, there are no countries listed as high-risk by the CECC.

On Wednesday, CECC spokesperson Chuang Jen-hsiang (莊人祥) said that the CECC was discussing a "7+7" plan for travelers, under which people will spend the first seven days of quarantine in a government facility or hotel, and then spend the remaining seven days of quarantine at home.

If the plan is approved, it will also be in place during the Dec. 14- Feb. 14 period, but it will likely only apply to people who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 for at least two weeks, Chuang said.

Accepted vaccines will be those approved either by the World Health Organization or Taiwan's Food and Drug Administration, Chuang added.

The CECC will announce whether or not they will go forward with the plan later this week, and release details on the same day on how people can book rooms at government quarantine facilities, Chuang said.

(By Chen Chieh-ling and Chiang Yi-ching)

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