Taiwan is set to stop admitting most non-resident foreigners for a month-long period beginning January 1. That's after health authorities confirmed Taiwan's first case of a COVID-19 patient infected with a new strain originating in the United Kingdom.
The patient was a teenage male passenger on a December 27 flight from the UK. The plane was carrying a total of 127 passengers and crew.
The case was confirmed on December 28. This patient was sent to the hospital with a fever and is believed to have a high virus load. The patient is being treated in an isolation ward.
Aside from legal residents of Taiwan, the only other foreign nationals that will be admitted during January will be spouses and children of Taiwanese nationals and those given special permission to enter, such as certain businesspeople.
In addition, starting January 15, those boarding flights to Taiwan must show proof of quarantine housing, which must be at designated quarantine facilities that provide one room per person.