The head of the Civil Aeronautics Administration, Lin Kuo-shian, says that stringent quarantine rules put in place for pilots flying international routes could be eased in March.
The rules were adopted in January, after a New Zealander flying for a Taiwanese airline was caught flouting existing epidemic prevention rules. As a result, Taiwan recorded its first domestic case of COVID-19 in months.
The tightened rules require pilots to wear masks at all times while on duty. They also require pilots to stay in home quarantine for one week after returning from abroad, and abide by more stringent health monitoring rules in the second week after an overseas flight.
While these measures may be effective when it comes to keeping out COVID-19, they have caused problems for pilots and airlines. Pilots describe being stuck in a never-ending cycle of quarantine, and the rules have also forced airlines to adjust pilots’ schedules.
On Thursday, however, Lin Kuo-shian said that pilots and airlines have largely done well in following the rules, and that officials may be able to look into relaxing them as soon as March.