Coronavirus News | Office of Global Mandarin Education

Considering the recent escalation of COVID-19 cases internationally and within Taiwan, and to safeguard domestic antipandemic security and protect people’s health, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced on May 17 that entry to Taiwan will be suspended from 00:00 on May 19 (local time of departure) to June 18 for foreign nationals not holding a valid R.O.C. (Taiwan) Resident Certificate. Exceptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis for emergencies and on humanitarian grounds. In accordance with the CECC’s antipandemic policy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will halt processing of visa applications. Entry will also be suspended for persons holding a valid visitor visa or resident visa. Foreign nationals requiring entry to Taiwan for emergency and on humanitarian ground, such as attending a funeral or visiting a critically ill family member, must receive special permission from the CECC before applying for a special entry permit visa from the Taiwan offices in their home country. The abovementioned measures may be adjusted by the CECC at any time in accordance with the status of the pandemic and associated operations. (E) Source: https://www.boca.gov.tw/cp-220-6517-9b761-2.html

On December 30, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) reported that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has continued to spread around the globe. The CECC stated that in consideration of the status of the COVID-19 pandemic globally, Taiwan would impose entry restrictions and quarantine regulations for non-R.O.C. nationals, effective from 00:00 am (local time at the airport of departure) on January 1, 2021, and Taiwan would strengthen quarantine measures form travelers coming to Taiwan, effective from 00:00 am on January 15, 2021. Details about entry restrictions and quarantine regulations for non-R.O.C. nationals are listed below. Non-R.O.C. nationals may enter Taiwan if they meet the following conditions: Foreign nationals: foreign nationals may enter Taiwan if they hold an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC); for diplomatic or official business; to fulfill contractual obligations; for special humanitarian reasons; when they are the spouse or the underage child of an R.O.C. national; or when they obtain other special permission. Hong Kong and Macao residents: Hong Kong and Macao residents may enter Taiwan if they hold an ARC; to fulfill contractual obligations; as part of internal transfers within multinational enterprises; when they are the spouse or the underage child of an R.O.C. national; or when they obtain permission under special programs. People from Mainland China: people from Mainland China may enter Taiwan if they hold an ARC; when they are the spouse or the underage child of an R.O.C. national; or when they obtain permission under special programs. Travelers transiting through Taiwan are temporarily prohibited. Short-term business travelers eligible for shortened quarantine periods in Taiwan, except for those who have obtained permission for their application, will be required to complete the 14-day home quarantine.  Suspending acceptance of entry applications for international medical care purpose. Special cases or emergency medical care cases are not subject to this rule. The CECC also stated that it would tighten home quarantine measures for travelers entering Taiwan starting from January 15, 2021. Apart from the original requirement of providing a COVID-19 RT-PCR test report issued within three days of boarding, arriving travelers shall also provide proof of the place of quarantine where travelers stay to undergo quarantine (in principle, the place shall be a group quarantine facility or quarantine hotel; those who choose to undergo quarantine at home shall make an affidavit to declare they have met the requirement of one person per residence). Entry quarantine measures will be adjusted on a rolling basis depending on the status of the pandemic and implementation of those measures.  

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan) is launching a third wave of international humanitarian assistance in response to the continued spread of the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, donating 7.07 million face masks to the United States, European Union and its member states, diplomatic allies, New Southbound Policy partner countries, and African and Middle Eastern nations. The R.O.C. government announced two earlier waves of humanitarian assistance on April 1 and April 9, donating face masks and other medical supplies to support frontline medical personnel as they fight the pandemic in countries that have been severely affected. This has drawn recognition and gratitude from around the world. Echoing the belief that Taiwan can help, and Taiwan is helping, many individual Taiwanese are also taking substantive action. Within just one week, a “Taiwan can help, Health for all” campaign had seen Taiwanese people gift 3.93 million face masks for overseas donation as of May 5. These masks will be part of Taiwan’s third wave of assistance. In this wave, 2.28 million face masks will go to the US federal government and hard-hit US states, 1.3 million to the EU and its member states, 1.09 million to Taiwan’s diplomatic allies, and 1.8 million to New Southbound Policy partner countries. Another 600,000 masks will also go to Africa and the Middle East, and to assist medics working with Syrian refugees. Taiwan also continues to expand antipandemic cooperation with the US, Europe, and other countries. In addition to cooperating on the research and development of pharmaceuticals and vaccines, Taiwan has also worked with the US to organize an online workshop on countering COVID-19 disinformation under our Global Cooperation and Training Framework, and conducted videoconferences with US think tanks and universities. For example, Vice President Chen Chien-jen spoke at a videoconference hosted by Johns Hopkins University. Elsewhere, government agencies are also actively working with European nations on the research and development of COVID-19 vaccines. As the world toils to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, Taiwan is doing all it can, and is proud to be supporting frontline medics and associated personnel in other countries. We firmly believe that the prevention and containment of COVID-19 transcends borders, and that only mutual assistance and mutually beneficial cooperation can build a solid line of defense. Taiwan is willing and able to contribute even more to global public health. (Data source:Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan's Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) on Sunday (May 10) announced no new cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) to report, meaning the country has gone 28 days without reporting a single local transmission. During his daily press conference Sunday afternoon, Health Minister and CECC head Chen Shih-chung (陳時中) announced there were zero new coronavirus cases detected for the third straight day. As of Sunday afternoon, the total number of Taiwan's confirmed COVID-19 cases stood at 440. As the response to the pandemic situation in Taiwan has continued to show promising results, Chen emphasized that the island nation's success in containing the spread of the virus should be credited to frontline medical workers as well as Taiwanese citizens, who have complied with the government's guidelines. He added that Sunday is Mother's Day and that the country's 28-day streak of having no local cases is the best present to all Taiwanese mothers. Chen also pointed out that Taiwan has a higher recovery rate of 83 percent for its COVID-19 patients, compared to the global average of 34 percent. Meanwhile, the death toll in Taiwan remained at six, while 366 patients have been released from hospital isolation. (Data Source: Taiwan News)

355 of Taiwan's coronavirus cases have been released from hospital isolation. TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan's Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) on Friday (May 8) announced zero new cases of Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) and 26 days without a new local case. During his daily press conference on Friday afternoon, Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中) announced there were no new cases of coronavirus. Taiwan's total number of coronavirus cases still stands at 440. The CECC announced that they received 422 reports of people with suspected symptoms on Thursday (May 7). Since the outbreak began, Taiwan has carried out 66,460 tests for COVID-19, with 65,211 coming back negative. Taiwan has now extended its streak of no new local infections to 26 days. Out of 440 total confirmed cases, 349 were imported, 55 were local, and 36 came from the Navy's Goodwill Fleet. Up until now, only six patients have succumbed, while 355 have been released from hospital isolation. (Data source : Taiwan News)

On May 7, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced one new confirmed imported case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Taiwan. Case #440 is an over 20-year-old female who visited Qatar for work in the second half of February. She was diagnosed with COVID-19 on March 10 and received medical treatment in Qatar. After being treated, she was tested negative for COVID-19 twice and returned to her dormitory on April 8. The CECC reported that the case didn’t show any symptoms when she returned to Taiwan on May 3. She voluntarily reported her previous diagnosis of COVID-19 to quarantine officers at the airport upon arrival. Although she was tested negative for COVID-19 on May 4, she had diarrhea the same day. Health agencies then arranged her medical care and COVID-19 testing on May 5. Infection with COVID-19 was laboratory-confirmed in the case on May 7. The CECC is investigating passengers on the same flight as the case to identify contacts of the case. (Data source:Taiwan Centers for Disease Control)