Industries in Taiwan can choose between three different types of social distancing. A top health official spoke about the differences when responding to a question in the legislature.
Lawmaker Su Chiao-hui was asking about the varying rules at different types of events. She said those differences make it unclear how society should reopen. Professional baseball games, for example, allow up to 2,000 spectators with limited eating options. Su said that cultural events, on the other hand, can sell 50% of their tickets, but participants are required to wear masks and are not allowed to eat. Restaurants and night markets do not have a seating limit or require visitors to give their personal details in order to enter.
Administrative Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Hsueh Jui-yuan clarified that there are three types of social distancing. He said that each industry can decide to use any combination of the three.
“The first principle is maintaining a social distance,” said Hsueh. “The second is wearing a mask. The third is separation.”
“How should the three be used on different occasions? The most basic way to deal with a situation is to use one of the principles,” he said. “But if you want to be safer you can use two or three of them.”
Hsueh said that when contact between people is closer and for a longer duration, then stricter standards should apply. He said the purpose of registering names is that it enables the authorities to trace contacts of confirmed cases, if needed.