Mandatory COVID-19 saliva testing for travelers from China will be extended to Feb. 6 as part of ongoing government safeguards for public health, the Central Epidemic Command Center said Jan. 28.
Originally set to run Jan. 1-31, the measure applies to all those arriving on direct flights from China, as well as to citizens returning via outlying Kinmen and Lienchiang Counties.
According to the CECC, although the COVID-19 positivity rates of travelers from China have dropped from around 25 percent to between 2 and 4 percent, it is still important to continue monitoring high-risk variants from across the strait given the potential impact on public health.
The massive population flow during the Lunar New Year holiday is also likely to increase the risk of further spread of the virus, the CECC added.
At the same time, a CECC requirement will also be extended to Feb. 6 for travelers from China who transit through Hong Kong or Macau to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test result from within 48 hours of their first departure, or a rapid test from within 24 hours of departure.
All inbound passengers should follow quarantine protocol by observing a seven-day self-health monitoring period, during which they need to have taken a rapid test with negative results within 48 hours before going out of their residence.
Those who test positive need to undergo a five-day isolation period, followed by a self-monitoring period of up to seven days or until they test negative, the CECC added. (SFC-E)
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