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Tourism Bureau eases requirements for local tour groups
Taiwan’s Tourism Bureau has lifted a ban on vaccination requirements for local tour groups. The move means that people who have not had a Covid vaccine booster shot can now join domestic tour groups by presenting a negative rapid test result instead. The ruling is effective immediately.
The Tourism Bureau says those wishing to participate in domestic tour groups, but who have not yet got a booster shot can instead show a negative rapid test taken within 48 hours prior to the start of the tour. However, tour guides and other travel agency employees are still required to have booster shots.
Officials say the rules were revised following discussions with tourism industry representatives, and after taking into account the impact the regulation has had on the tourism industry, the rising vaccination rate, and the improving Covid-19 situation here in Taiwan.
This comes as the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) reported 35,632 new Covid cases on Monday, of which 35,596 were domestic infections. It was the lowest number recorded in over 40 days. Centers for Disease Control Deputy Director-General Philip Luo says daily case numbers in the coming days will likely climb by 10-30%, but the numbers should stay below 50,000 cases.
Of the cases previously reported, public health officials say 111 have become severe, while 184 other individuals have developed moderate symptoms of the virus. In addition, 144 new deaths were reported. The deceased patients ranged in age from their 20s to 90s. They consisted of 139 individuals who had chronic illnesses or other severe diseases, while a total of 57 were unvaccinated. This brings the number of coronavirus-related deaths since the pandemic began here in Taiwan to 5,365.
