Taiwan-Palau travel bubble begins with 5 principles of epidemic prevention
台灣-帛琉旅遊泡泡始於五項防疫原則
Travelers returning to Taiwan must undergo 5 days of 'strengthened' self-health monitoring
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan's Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) on Wednesday (March 17) announced that the country's travel bubble with Palau will officially begin in April with five principles of epidemic prevention, three conditions, and "strengthened" self-health monitoring.
On Wednesday, the CECC, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), and the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) held a joint press conference to announce the official opening of the new travel bubble between Taiwan and Palau. At the same time, Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr.and Taiwan Ambassador to Palau Wallace Chow (周民淦) held a simultaneous press conference in Palau announcing the new tourism bubble, which is set to start in April.
During the press briefing, Health Minister and CECC head Chen Shih-chung (陳時中) said that he hopes the new bubble will revitalize tourism and economic activities in the two countries while taking into account safety measures to minimize the risk of infection and transmission. To ensure safety and the smooth execution of the tourism bubble, Chen said that travelers must comply with five major epidemic prevention principles.
5 principles of epidemic prevention:
Travelers must stay with their tour groups at all times, personal excursions are not allowed.
Planning the itinerary is based on the principle of avoiding crowds and demarking areas that are separate from local residents, while appropriate lodging and travel routes must be selected in advance.
Adopting fixed transportation hubs throughout the whole process, and the means of transportation should be cleaned and disinfected daily.
Travelers can only stay in hotels that have obtained the "safety and epidemic prevention certificate" approved by the local health department in Palau.
Restaurants must have designated dining areas and appropriate distribution of customers, with properly planned entry and exit paths and seating arrangements while maintaining appropriate social distancing.
3 conditions to qualify for the travel bubble:
No history of traveling abroad within the past 6 months.
No quarantine or home isolation within the past 2 months.
No record of coronavirus infection within the past 3 months.
In addition, prior to departure, travelers must cooperate with airport staff in taking a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test and generating a report verifying that the test results were negative.
"Strengthened" self-health monitoring
After completing the trip, tourists do not need to take a PCR test prior to returning to Taiwan from Palau. After returning from Taiwan, they are exempt from undergoing the standard 14-day quarantine.
Instead, they must implement "strengthened" self-health monitoring for five days. If a self-financed coronavirus test is negative on the fifth day, they can switch to standard self-health monitoring until the 14th day after entry.
The CECC pointed out that during the period of "strengthened" self-health monitoring, with the exception of those who had traveled together, returnees should conform to the principle of one person and one room, with separate living spaces and bathrooms. People living together should take appropriate protective measures, including wearing masks, maintaining social distancing, and not eating together.
If a returning traveler does not show any symptoms, they can venture out, but can only engage in fixed and limited activities, and cannot take public transportation. They are forbidden to go to crowded places.
A real-name identification system will be used and daily activities and contacts must be recorded. No contact with unfamiliar persons is allowed.
In addition, returning travelers should wear masks and maintain social distancing whenever stepping out, and observe the general self-health monitoring precautions for 14 days after entry.
