Taiwan’s northernmost cities and counties have agreed to loosen rules mandating the wearing of masks on public transit.
Representatives from Yilan County and the cities of Taipei, New Taipei, Keelung, and Taoyuan reached the agreement on Friday.
Deputy Taipei Mayor Huang Shan-shan says that masks will still be required on buses. Metro passengers will also have their temperatures checked, and they will still need to wear masks before boarding trains. However, Huang says that passengers will be allowed to remove their masks once inside trains, provided that they can maintain a safe distance from other passengers.
Meanwhile, New Taipei Mayor Hou You-yi says that disinfection of public transport will continue as it has.
The Taipei City Government will also continue to require drivers, conductors, metro staff, and taxi stand staff to wear masks. Taipei will continue requiring these workers to undergo temperature checks and to regularly disinfect their cars or trains as well.