Even before the sun is up, Taiwanese people are already out at the beach, wearing bathing suits and even ready to jump on their surfboards. For now, they still have to make sure they're properly wearing their face masks, even as they go underwater.
Many people have complained that their mask immediately gets soaked, making it difficult to wear and even breathe.
Thankfully, the Central Epidemic Command Center has announced that starting from Tuesday, these rules are going to change. People in open outdoor areas, like beaches and forests, do not need to wear masks if they are able to safely maintain social distancing.
Many hikers are pleased to hear this verdict, because they say that it's uncomfortable to breathe through a mask while hiking in the heat. Others say that even though the government is ready to loosen restrictions, they will continue to wear the masks to have peace of mind. They are especially hesitant because they feel the government has been unclear about when it's acceptable to remove one's mask, leaving too much open to individual interpretation.
Health Minister Chen Shih-chung says that this new rule is simply giving people the freedom to choose whether or not to wear masks in sparsely populated open areas. However, he says as soon as people can no longer maintain proper social distancing, they must put their masks back on.
These changing rules may take some time to adjust to, but they're positive indicators that Taiwan is on the road back to normality.