CORONAVIRUS/Taiwan eases quarantine rules for visitors from Peru, Bangladesh and Brazil

Taipei, Sept. 23 (CNA) Visitors arriving in Taiwan from Peru, Bangladesh, and Brazil will no longer be required to quarantine at a government center from Sept. 25, and can instead choose to quarantine at hotels, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said Thursday.

The change is because the three countries will no longer be listed as "key high-risk countries," as their COVID-19 case numbers have continued to fall, the CECC said.

Also, no travelers from the three nations to Taiwan have been confirmed to be infected with variants of the coronavirus in the past two months, the CECC said.

The revised classification will allow travelers from the three countries more choice in where they carry out the mandatory 14-day quarantine, though they will now be required to pay for their accommodation.

Currently, Taiwan requires travelers who have been to or transited through "key high-risk countries" in the last 14 days before entering Taiwan to quarantine at a government-designated facility. They can stay at the facility for free.

Countries included on the "key high-risk countries" list are India, the United Kingdom, Israel, Indonesia and Myanmar.

Travelers from other countries can choose to stay at a government quarantine facility as well, though they will have to pay NT$2,000 (US$72) per night, or at an authorized quarantine hotel.

All travelers, regardless of where they are arriving from, have to undergo three COVID-19 tests: two polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests at the beginning and end of the quarantine period, and a COVID-19 antigen rapid test between the 10th and 12th day of their quarantine, according to the CECC.