The transportation ministry says that starting from July, all national flight crews arriving from high-risk countries will undergo two weeks of quarantine, with a PCR test on the final day. The new regulations, announced on Thursday, apply regardless of whether crew members have been vaccinated against COVID-19.
The ministry says the new rules are designed to comply with Central Epidemic Command Center guidelines. It says they will make adjustments as more people get vaccinated against COVID-19. But for high-risk countries such as India and Brazil, the transportation ministry is enforcing a strict two-week quarantine period, regardless of vaccination status.
Under the new rules, long-haul flight crews can fly out of Taiwan during their quarantine period if they test negative in a rapid antigen test before departure.
The rules for crews returning from countries that are not high-risk vary according to vaccination status. Unvaccinated crew members and those who received their first dose less than two weeks before arrival have to undergo seven days’ quarantine. They must then test negative in a PCR test on the seventh day, before undergoing seven days’ enhanced autonomous health management with a rapid test on the final day.
Crew members who are fully vaccinated and test positive for antibodies against the virus have to undergo seven days’ autonomous health management. They must then test negative in a PCR test on the seventh day.