Taiwan Relaxes Quarantine Rules for Business Travelers from Medium-Risk Countries

Strategic Insights -

Taiwan has announced that citizens from medium-risk countries, including Singapore, will be eligible for a shortened seven-day quarantine period starting June 22. The decision was made by the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) in response to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak in Singapore, but with the caveat that the vast majority of cases are among migrant workers who live separately from the rest of the population.

CECC head Chen Shih-chung stated that the primary condition for a shortened quarantine period is that the visitor's country of origin has been deemed low- to medium-risk in terms of coronavirus infections, and the visitor has no travel history to other countries/regions 14 days before boarding the flight to Taiwan. Business travelers from Singapore and other medium-risk countries must also take a PCR test for COVID-19 within three days of departure and present certified negative results upon arrival.

Key Takeaways:

  • The CECC has designated Singapore as a medium-risk country, eligible for a shortened seven-day quarantine period starting June 22.
  • To qualify for the shortened quarantine period, business travelers must meet four conditions, including declaration by the CECC, stay of less than 3 months, business-related activities, and a negative PCR test result within three days of departure.
  • Those from medium-risk countries can reduce the quarantine length to seven days, while those from low-risk countries can reduce the quarantine length to five days.
  • Low-risk countries include New Zealand, Australia, Macau, Palau, Fiji, Brunei, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Thailand, Mongolia, and Bhutan.
  • Medium-risk countries include Singapore, South Korea, Japan, and Malaysia.
  • Business travelers from medium-risk countries must present certified negative PCR test results upon arrival and undergo 21 days of self-health management after completing the shortened quarantine period.

Statistics:

  • 40,969 coronavirus cases in Singapore as of the CECC announcement, with "over 90 percent" being migrant workers.
  • 14-day travel history restriction before boarding the flight to Taiwan.
  • 3-month stay limit for business travelers.
  • 5- or 7-day quarantine period for business travelers, depending on country of origin.
  • 21 days of self-health management after completing the shortened quarantine period.
  • The CECC has designated 11 countries as low-risk, and 4 countries as medium-risk.

Sources:

  • Taiwan's Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC)
  • Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan
  • Taiwan News Network (TNN)