TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan further relaxed its epidemic-prevention measures on Monday (Nov. 7), including removing infrared cameras from some MRT stations.
Stores and shops are no longer required to take the temperature of their patrons either, while public facilities like gyms and travel tour groups no longer require customers to present a negative rapid test or a proof of booster shots before being able to join.
Also, quarantine periods for confirmed cases and those who have come in close contact with them have also been shortened. Confirmed COVID-19 patients will only quarantine for 7 days. After that, if they test negative on a rapid test, they are free to head outside.
Moreover, starting on Nov. 14, quarantine periods for confirmed patients will be shortened to 5 days. For close contacts, the Taiwan government will now allow zero plus seven quarantine measures, meaning they no longer have to quarantine.
These new relaxed measures mean that close contacts will no longer be able to cash in on COVID-related insurance policies. After more than 1,000 days of quarantine regulations issued by Taiwan, around 5.6 million Taiwan residents have undergone quarantine at some point over the past 3 years.
As the pandemic subsides, Taiwan's next challenge is to make sure it can maintain a stabilized health situation.