Coronavirus: Taiwan to PCR test all mainland China arrivals at airports, outlying ferry piers from New Year’s Day
- PCR test rule applies to all mainland arrivals at Taiwan’s four airports or ferry piers on Quemoy and Matsu islands, epidemic command centre says
- Taiwan follows Japan in announcing pandemic restrictions after a surge in Covid-19 cases in mainland China, which opens its borders on January 8
The tightening of entry rules comes as surging coronavirus cases in the mainland spark concerns over a new spike being triggered in Taiwan.
As of New Year’s Day on Sunday, all passengers from mainland China will be required to take PCR tests upon arrival at the Taiwan’s four international airports, the island’s health officials said.
The same will apply to the piers at the Taiwan-controlled offshore islets of Matsu and Quemoy, also known as Kinmen.
“Passengers taking flights from China are subject to this special programme aimed at strengthening Covid-19 pandemic control in Taiwan,” said Wang Pi-sheng, head of the island’s Central Epidemic Command Centre.
Those landing at Taoyuan International Airport would be asked to take the tests “at a specially assigned zone in Terminal 2”, he added, without elaborating what the procedure would be at the other smaller airports.
