A leaked document says Taiwan will drop quarantine and open up its borders on October 10 — but the official in charge of the country’s COVID response says that plan has already changed.
According to the leaked timetable, the government will announce the plan on October 3 and open Taiwan to quarantine-free travel the following week — on Monday, October 10. That’s Taiwan’s National Day.
But the head of Taiwan’s Central Epidemic Command Center, Victor Wang, says that timetable has already been revised. He says there’s little chance Taiwan will be ready to open up that early.
Right now, people arriving in Taiwan have to stay in complete isolation for three days, followed by four days avoiding crowded places and eating with others.
Taiwan has gradually cut the quarantine period down from two weeks to three days as it continues to move away from a zero-COVID strategy.
On Monday, Taiwan started allowing visa-free travel from certain countries. Dropping quarantine and fully restarting the visa waiver program are two of the last major steps towards a full reopening.