Taiwan bars entry of non-resident foreigners, transit travelers amid COVID-19 surge

Tourists check the model of the Taipei 101, a 508-meter high commercial building, in Taipei on August 27, 2019. (Photo by Sam YEH / AFP)

MANILA, Philippines — The Taiwanese government has barred the entry of all foreigners without valid resident certificates and transit travelers for a month as the East Asian country faces a resurgence of COVID-19 infections.

The Taiwan Center for Disease Control (CDC) posted on its website Monday the new travel restrictions prohibiting non-Taiwan citizens without a valid Alien Residence Certificate to enter the country starting midnight of May 19.

Similarly, transit travelers or those who use other airports for connecting flights would also be barred.

“On May 17, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced that due to the surges in the number of COVID-19 cases in Taiwan and other countries, Taiwan would implement new entry restrictions and measures listed below beginning 00:00 am on May 19 (departure time at the airport of departure),” Taiwan CDC said.

“The above-mentioned measures will be effective from May 19 to June 18 and will be adjusted on a rolling basis based on the status of the pandemic and effectiveness of those measures,” it added.

Earlier, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in the Philippines posted on its Facebook page that 335 new COVID-19 cases were recorded in Taiwan on Monday — two of which came from abroad, specifically, one each from the Philippines and Haiti.

All in all, Taiwan has 2,017 cases, of which 12 died and 1,123 recovered.

https://www.facebook.com/TECO.PHL/posts/618542929029202

Last May 11, it was reported that Taiwan tightened its COVID-19 curbs after a surge of new cases were detected in its capital city Taipei and New Taipei City.

Over the weekend, Taipei saw silent streets as the government raised to Level 3 its COVID-19 Alert in the cities of Taipei and New Taipei City.

https://www.facebook.com/TECO.PHL/posts/618461092370719

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Prior to the surge, Taiwan has been hailed as one of the best countries in terms of COVID-19 response, ranking high in global surveys and studies. Even with the surge, Taiwan is still faring better than many countries in the region including the nearby Philippines, which is reeling from the after-effects of a resurgence last April.

READ: Taiwan’s formula vs COVID-19: Prioritize effective health measures to avoid economic downturn

KGA