Taiwan follows Japan in announcing pandemic restrictions after a surge in Covid-19 cases in mainland China, which opens its borders on January 8.
„:“Taiwan will test all arrivals from mainland China for Covid-19 starting January 1, becoming the second destination after Japan to do so after Beijing lifted its strict zero-Covid policy earlier this month. The tightening of entry rules comes as surging coronavirus cases in the mainland spark concerns over a new spike being triggered in Taiwan. As Singapore, Malaysia cheer return of China tourists, Japan and India recoil As of New Year’s Day on Sunday, all passengers from mainland China will be required to take PCR tests upon arrival at the Taiwan’s four international airports, the island’s health officials said. The same will apply to the piers at the Taiwan-controlled offshore islets of Matsu and Quemoy, also known as Kinmen. “Passengers taking flights from China are subject to this special programme aimed at strengthening Covid-19 pandemic control in Taiwan,” said Wang Pi-sheng, head of the island’s Central Epidemic Command Centre. Those landing at Taoyuan International Airport would be asked to take the tests “at a specially assigned zone in Terminal 2”, he added, without elaborating what the procedure would be at the other smaller airports. Taoyuan International near Taipei is the largest of Taiwan’s four airports. The others are Taipei Songshan, Kaohsiung International and Taichung International. Quemoy and Matsu residents returning to the islets for the Lunar New Year via temporarily reopened ferry links with the mainland cities of Xiamen and Mawei will also be tested on arrival.
