Taiwan will ease a number of COVID-19 restrictions starting from July 27, as authorities announced plans to move from Level 3 to Level 2 in the government’s COVID-19 alert system. The news from Premier Su Tseng-chang on Friday means a number of venues shuttered during the current COVID-19 outbreak should be able to reopen.
Taiwan authorities first implemented a nationwide Level 3 COVID-19 Alert on May 19. That’s the second highest level on a four-level scale. Level 3 restrictions mean restaurants can only offer take-out, masks must be worn at all times outside the house, and indoor gatherings are limited to five people.
The move to Level 2 will significantly ease a number of those restrictions. Authorities plan to raise the limit for indoor gatherings to 50 people, and outdoor gatherings will move from a limit of 10 people to 100. Restaurants will also resume indoor dining if the venue can enforce social distancing and implement measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
However, bars, nightclubs, and karaoke venues will not reopen. As for cram schools and daycare centers, venues can reopen only under certain conditions. At least 80% of staff must have been vaccinated or tested negative for COVID-19 within the preceding three days.
The Central Epidemic Command Center says it discussed the move with regional governments on Thursday afternoon. It says it has proposed resuming indoor dining if restaurants can enforce social distancing and implement other measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The center says regional governments did not voice any objections to the plans.
Next Tuesday’s move to Level 2 will proceed along the same lines as the last time authorities eased restrictions. That means the epidemic command center will issue general guidelines, and government ministries will then use those guidelines to draw up restrictions. However, it will be up to regional governments to decide how to implement them. There will be flexibility to ease or tighten restrictions depending on the risk posed by COVID-19 locally.