On November 11, 2021, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) of Taiwan government announced a new program, under which arrivals can undergo a 7-day quarantine at a self-paid group quarantine facility or a quarantine hotel, spend the following 7 days quarantining at home, and then practice the 7-day self-health management. The new program will be in place from December 14, 2021 to February 14, 2022, and offers an additional option for travelers to undergo the mandatory 14-day quarantine. Details about the quarantine measures effective during the period (from December 14, 2021 to February 14, 2022) are listed below.
A. Program A (14+7): travelers will complete the 14-day quarantine at a quarantine hotel and practice an additional 7-day self-health management.
B. Program B (10+4+7): travelers will quarantine at a quarantine hotel for 10 days, spend the remaining 4 days quarantining at home, and then practice the 7-day self-health management.
a. Arrivals: will quarantine at a quarantine hotel for the first 10 days (0-10th day), undergo an additional PCR test on the 9th or 10th day of quarantine. If their test result comes back negative, arrivals, on the 11th day, may take a quarantine taxi to return home to undergo quarantine during the remaining 4 days (the 11th-14th day after arrival). Arrivals must take a PCR test one day prior to the end of their quarantine period, and may be released from quarantine and continue to practice the 7-day self-health management if their test result is negative.
b. During the last four days of quarantine at home, the principle of one person per residence should be observed, namely that only an individual subjected to quarantine can stay in the household.
However, if family members (not subjected to home quarantine) living with this individual and have received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, they can be divided into one person per room within the same residence.
C. Program C (7+7+7): travelers will quarantine at a self-paid group quarantine facility or a quarantine hotel, spend the following 7 days quarantining at home, and then practice a 7-day self-health management. Accepted vaccines will be those approved under the WHO Emergency Use Listing (WHO EUL) or approved for emergency use or manufacture by Taiwan.
a. Arrivals: must complete a two-dose series of a COVID-19 vaccine 14 days prior to arrival. Arrivals will quarantine at a self-paid group quarantine facility or a quarantine hotel for the first 7 days (0-7th day), and must undergo a PCR test one day prior to the end of their quarantine at the quarantine facility/quarantine hotel. If their test result comes back negative, arrivals may take a quarantine taxi the next day to return home to undergo quarantine during the remaining days (the 8th-14th day). Arrivals must take a government-funded rapid test using a home test kit on the 10th day and undergo a PCR test one day before the end of quarantine. Arrivals may be released from quarantine and continue to practice the 7-day self-health management if their test results are negative.
b. During the last 7 days of quarantine at home, the principle of one person per residence should be observed, namely that only an individual subjected to quarantine can stay in the household. However, arrivals may choose to quarantine with family members (not subjected to home quarantine) living in the same household while following the rule of one person per room. Their family members should meet the following criteria and observe the rules listed below.
(1) Family members must complete a two-dose series of a COVID-19 vaccine 14 days previously.
(2) Family members (not subjected to home quarantine) sharing a residence with an individual subjected to quarantine must practice enhanced self-health management from the 8th to 14th day of the individual's quarantine period and observe self-health management from the 15th to 21st day. The local government will issue a self-health management notice.
(3) Family members (not subjected to home quarantine) sharing a residence with an individual subjected to quarantine must take rapid tests using home test kits on the 10th day and 14th day of the individual's quarantine period.
The CECC pointed out that as the Lunar New Year quarantine programs will be implemented starting December 14, 2021, travelers returning to Taiwan between December 14, 2021 and February 14, 2022 must pay attention to and follow the three steps listed below.
Step 1: Prepare required documents before the flight:
Travelers should prepare related documents required for the program they choose (Program A: Stay in a quarantine hotel for 14 days and practice 7 days of self-health management; Program B: 10 days in a quarantine hotel + 4 days at home for quarantine + 7 days of self-health management; Program C: Stay in a self-paid government quarantine facility or a quarantine hotel for the first 7 days, spend the remaining 7 days at home, and practice 7 days of self-health management) and a personal mobile phone with internet access. Regardless of which quarantine program they choose, all travelers must prepare a COVID-19 RT-PCR test report issued within three days prior to boarding and quarantine hotel reservation confirmation. Those who choose Program C will need to prepare proof of full vaccination in addition to the above-mentioned documents. Additionally, Travelers who choose Program B/C and will undergo home quarantine for the last four/seven days because the one person per room rule can be followed (everyone in the same household has to be fully vaccinated for 14 days) should have the name, ID number, phone number of everyone in the same household for the online declaration.
The 3-day period of a COVID-19 RT-PCR test report will be calculated based on the incoming flight's scheduled departure time at the place of departure and calendar days, that is, counting three calendar days backwards without excluding national holidays or weekends at the place.
Step 2: Complete an online health declaration form before boarding:
Travelers should fill out an online health declaration form on the Quarantine System for Entry (https://hdhq.mohw.gov.tw/) within 48 hours prior to flight arrival in Taiwan. When checking in at an overseas airport, travelers should show their Departure Place Declaration Certificate on their mobile phone. Also, travelers should bring the above-mentioned documents or proof with them for inspection by the airline before boarding.
Step 3: Follow onsite instructions to clear customs after arrival:
After disembarking their flight, travelers should turn on their phone to receive a text message; travelers should present their online health/quarantine declaration certificate and the above-mentioned documents when going through customs. After their documents are inspected and they claim their baggage, travelers will be given a rapid test kit (only travelers choosing Programs A and C). Travelers will then take a deep-throat saliva test, after which, they should take a quarantine vehicle to their quarantine location as soon as possible for the 14-day quarantine.