TAIPEI (TVBS News) — With many countries gradually reopening borders, Taiwan is lagging behind as a new wave of BA.5 Omicron subvariant sweeps across the nation. At the arrival gate at Taoyuan International Airport, impatient travelers direct their anger toward airport personnel as the number of arriving passengers increases in Taiwan.
The long wait to conduct PCR tests and get into quarantine taxis brought out fiery tempers among travelers, so to make things run smoother, the Taiwanese government quickly adjusted corresponding measures. Liu Hsiao-ping, an administration head at the Taoyuan International Airport, explained that the latest regulations announced on Sep. 3 allow those heading to the same quarantine center to carpool with others going to the same place.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Labor will be responsible for the transportation of migrant workers until Sep. 16, so there will be more quarantine taxis for other travelers, she added. Liu explained that PCR facilities have also been increased with the number of PCR rooms increased to 27 in Terminal 1 and 25 in Terminal 2.
Now, arriving international students and migrant workers heading to the same quarantine hotel can share a quarantine taxi to the same destination.
At present, there are 1,146 quarantine taxis at Taoyuan Airport. The international airport has also dispatched taxis from Songshan Airport and asked for 200 more taxis from taxi companies.
The latest tally shows that around 60% of arriving passengers take quarantine taxis while 30% are picked up by friends or family. The government also allows arriving travelers to drive by themselves starting on Sept. 1, so Taoyuan Airport has encouraged travelers who often go on short trips abroad to use the newly relaxed regulations.
After allowing arriving travelers to carpool to the same quarantine centers, traffic jams at the airport gradually eased. With many wondering when Taiwan will fully reopen its borders, the CECC has made various adjustments. Step one would be adjusting the quarantine period to 3+4. Then, Taiwan will gradually allow more arriving passengers and open borders for some tour groups.
Lastly, the quarantine period will be shortened to 0+7, meaning only seven days of self-health management is needed.
To keep up with the international community, Taiwan allows visa-free entry for travelers from the U.S., Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Europe, and our diplomatic allies starting on Sept. 12.
Though Taiwan’s reopening of borders is slower than neighboring countries, it’s likely due to the nation’s medical capacity considerations.
Taiwan plans to reopen its borders, but the extent will still be based on the trajectory of the pandemic and the nation’s medical capacity to handle it.
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