The Central Epidemic Command Center announced new quarantine measures Jan. 13 for incoming passengers who have traveled to South Africa or Eswatini in the past 14 days in response to the escalating COVID-19 situation in the two countries.
Starting Jan. 14, such passengers—including those who have transited in the two countries—will be required to stay at designated quarantine facilities after arrival in Taiwan, the CECC said.
These individuals must undergo an additional test before completing the mandatory 14-day stay and then practice self-health management for seven days after being discharged from the facilities. Both the accommodation and testing will be free of charge, it added.
The CECC’s new measures came after a passenger from Eswatini, who arrived in Taiwan in late December, tested positive Jan. 3 and nine days later was discovered to be the country’s first case of the new coronavirus strain found in South Africa. The same measures have been imposed on passengers from the U.K. since Dec 3,2020.
Latest statistics reveal Taiwan has 842 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and seven deaths. The country recently reported two domestic cases, a male physician who had attended COVID-19 patients and a nurse from the same hospital in northern Taiwan who lives with the physician. (SFC-E)
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