Press Release of the Offshore Control Division of the Executive Yuan's SARS Prevention, Control and Relief Committee
The Offshore Control Division announced this morning (June 30) that the lifting of "Type B Home Quarantine Measures" for all travelers entering/returning to Taiwan from the Mainland will be effective on July 4. Although these passengers will no longer need to undergo a 10-day home quarantine after arrival, they will still be required to follow a "self-care procedure" to ensure a comprehensive SARS control system. Since airports facilities available for SARS prevention and the overall capacity that the airports have for handling related matters still need to be further strengthened due to a possible surge of personnel movement by cross-Strait travel after the lifting of compulsory quarantine, the Offshore Control Division calls on ROC nationals not to rush back all at once immediately after July 4, and cause serious overload to airline and airport operations.. For the same reason, we hope that tourists/travel agents refrain from immediately scheduling Mainland tours/packages to reserve limited airport health care facilities for ROC nationals who are in a more urgent need to return home from the Mainland.
Lifting of "Type B Home Quarantine Measures" for Travelers Entering from the Mainland
As the domestic SARS epidemic has gradually been curbed, the Offshore Control Division decided that with a view to helping restore regular business activities, ROC nationals, foreign passport holders and Hong Kong/Macao residents coming/returning to Taiwan from the Mainland will be exempt from "Type B Home Quarantine" regulations on July 4, and will instead be required to comply with "self-care procedure." The only travelers to which "Type B Home Quarantine Measures" currently apply are those entering Taiwan from Toronto, Canada, which remains a SARS transmission area.
SARS Situation in the Mainland Is Still Unclear; ROC Nationals Need to Be Remain Cautious
The Offshore Control Division gives special explanations about the appropriate timing for taking the adjustment measures regarding travelers coming/returning to Taiwan from the Mainland. The reasons are in the following: Due to a large amount of travel and frequent personnel contacts between the Mainland and Taiwan, and according to related information and data obtained by Department of Health (DOH) Minister Chen and Center for Disease Control (CDC) Director-General Su, who had participated in the international video conference in Malaysia, the Conference on SARS Prevention hosted by the WHO in Singapore, and had contacts with individual WHO officials as well as high-ranking health officials from various nations, all the information gathered so far has shown the fact that the epidemic situation in the Mainland is still far from clear. For example, the source of infection in more than 70% of all current SARS cases in Beijing has still not been identified. Therefore, it will be proper to take more cautious standards when lifting related quarantines measures regarding travelers coming/returning to Taiwan from the Mainland.
Setting Up A Public Health Monitoring and Management Mechanism
The Offshore Control Division pointed out that that WHO's current standard procedure for erasing a nation from its list of SARS transmission areas is as follows: The incubation period for SARS is ten days. Starting from the day the last infection was reported, the time of two incubation periods (20 days) has to elapse before a country may be taken off the list. At the recommendation of Prof. Lee Ming-liang, commander of the Anti-SARS Operational Headquarters, and after consulting the opinion of experts and researchers, the Division decided to add another incubation period (10 days) to the day when the Mainland was taken off the WHO list (June 24) before lifting compulsory quarantine requirements for travelers from the Mainland area. In this extended period, relevant government agencies have been able to get all necessary accompanying measures in place, and set up a public health monitoring and management system to keep track of potential risks and provide an anti-epidemic safety net that ensures the well-being of the entire population. This procedure has met with approval from WHO staff stationed in Taiwan.
ROC Nationals Entering from the Mainland Need to Follow "Self-Care Procedure"
In accordance with the adjusted regulations previously announced by the Offshore Control Division, ROC Nationals, foreign passport holders and Hong Kong/Macao residents entering Taiwan from Hong Kong, Macao or the Mainland are required to fill in a Questionnaire for SARS Prevention prior to their arrival. They also have to undergo a temperature check when entering into Taiwan. After entry, they need to comply with related regulations to perform temperature checks twice a day and to record the results and their itinerary in Taiwan as detailed in the "Guide to Self-Care Procedure" issued by the CDC. Health authorities will perform random checks to monitor compliance. The main reason for this policy is that SARS has by no means been totally eradicated yet, and that a potential threat for new transmissions still exists. Given the fact that information on disease control in the Mainland area is very opaque, and the frequent and close contacts between Hong Kong/Macao and the Mainland, we have very good reason to maintain a cautious attitude and to adopt adequate prevention measures with regard to travelers from these areas. The "self-care procedure" is indeed a considerable relaxation from that of previous restrictions, while at the same time keeping a necessary amount of precautionary measures in place. We hope that the people of Taiwan can lend their full support to these necessary measures, and comply with all regulations.
Crisis Awareness Still Needed, All ROC Nationals Should Comply with Border and Travel Control Measures
After the lifting of compulsory quarantine measures on July 4, we expect a sharp increase in the number of people traveling between the Mainland, HK, Macao and Taiwan. Taking into consideration the needs of epidemic prevention, and the administration burden that may increase due to the relaxation of prevention measures, the Offshore Control Division hopes that the population will postpone unnecessary trips to the Mainland, including sightseeing until a later time. Through continued efforts in border control, it is hoped that pressure on Taiwan's epidemic prevention will be lessened.
Mainland People (Excl. Mainland Spouses and Their Legitimate Children) Still Fall Under Stricter Quarantine Regulations on a Case-by-Case Basis
In matters of the lifting of regulatory measures with regard to cross-Strait exchanges, we adhere to the principle of easing restrictions in a gradual way. Regarding visits of the Mainland people to Taiwan for social exchanges, Mainland spouses and their legitimate children are in principle allowed to enter under the relaxed regulations. Mainland nationals coming to Taiwan for attending funeral, family reunion, visiting patient or other urgent matters may enter on special permit. For all other Mainland nationals, processing of visa applications is still suspended. As for business visitors, they may apply for entry according to the current Guidelines for Conducting Business Activities. As for professional exchanges, those who plan to visit Taiwan for reasons of "technical assistance," "examination of goods," "business procurement," or urgent matters, may file applications on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the current regulations.
Validity of Mainland Spouses Residence Permits Is Extended Until the End of August
Regarding those Mainland spouses who need to leave Taiwan at the expiration of their duration of stay, the Offshore Control Division had previously announced that out of epidemic prevention and humanitarian considerations, the duration of stay for Mainland spouses would be extended automatically until June 30. After consultations with the related government agencies, it is now decided that in order to reduce the pressure on the transportation systems, to avoid entering a peak period of personnel movement due to the increased number of people going abroad during the summer vacation, as well as to allow Mainland spouses extra time for making adequate travel arrangements, the term of validity for Mainland spouses to stay in Taiwan is to be extended again to July 31, and a one-month "buffer period" until the end of August.
Visits to the Mainland for Official or Private Reasons Are Still Suspended for Military, Government Employee and Teachers
For the time being, military, government employee and teachers remain prohibited from traveling to the Mainland (official or private). If a business travel is indeed necessary, it has to be approved by the Executive Yuan. In principle, travel permits will not be issued for visits to the Mainland by people who file applications based on reasons of family visits and visiting a patient, if their reasons are not absolutely necessary.
Perpetrators of Smuggling and Illegal Immigration Still Subject to Compulsory Home Quarantine
To prevent loopholes in Taiwan's SARS prevention efforts, the Offshore Control Division stressed that those caught in the act of smuggling or involved in illegal immigration will still be dealt with by the Coast Guard Administration under "SARS Cleanup Program" regulations. Illegal immigrants from the Mainland, as well as domestic ship crew found to be engaging in illegal operations on sea, such as smuggling, illegal immigration and other dealings with the Mainland ships, will all be continually subject to the "Compulsory Quarantine Measures for the Entrants" to prevent the epidemic from the outside.
Switch to New Measures on July 4 for Travelers Who Previously Entered from the Mainland According to Old Regulations
Restrictions will be lifted on July 4 on those who entered/returned to Taiwan from the Mainland according to the old regulations, and currently are placed under "Type B Home Quarantine Measures" or dealt with under the "Guidelines for Conducting Business Activities" (after their local company/business partner provided a letter of guarantee). Restrictions will be lifted automatically without approval from health authorities.
We Call on the Public to Comply with the Health Authorities' Monitoring and Follow-up Measures, and to Remain Alert to the Possible Return of SARS
The Offshore Control Division declared that to efficiently implement the newly adjusted measures, airports need to be furnished with additional equipment and staff. In addition, the compliance and cooperation of all local governments and the general public are necessary to conduct successful follow-up and precautionary measures. Since April 28 of this year, different sets of border control and preventive measures have been in place to deal with different phases of the epidemic. Through the joint efforts and cooperation, these prevention mechanisms have shown great results in containing the SARS virus. We wish to express our most sincere gratitude, and to the public for understanding and support of these offshore control policies in a time of national crisis. In the future, the government will continue to closely monitor the situation, be prepared for all eventualities, and constantly review and adjust current prevention measures to let the people of Taiwan live in an environment free of epidemic threats and fear, and also allow them to resume their normal lives and activities.