The three-dose vaccine requirement and temperature monitoring rule for certain public activities would be lifted from Nov. 7, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced yesterday.
At present, people attending religious events and tour groups, as well as visitors to gyms and adult entertainment venues must have had three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine or present a negative rapid test for the virus.
From Nov. 7, there would no longer be a three-dose or test requirement for those activities, said Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Victor Wang (王必勝), who heads the center.
Photo courtesy of the Central Epidemic Command Center
Taking temperatures at public venues would also no longer be compulsory from the same date, Wang said, citing the requirement’s relative inability to identify positive cases.
Establishments such as hospitals and residential care facilities would still be able to implement health monitoring as they see fit, he added.
The CECC has also asked government agencies to review their COVID-19 guidelines to determine if temperature monitoring at building entrances is necessary, Wang said.
Also from Nov. 7, people who test positive for COVID-19 would no longer need to observe seven days of self-health management after their seven days of quarantine, the CECC said.
Caregivers of confirmed cases could also forgo self-health management if they test negative after the seven-day quarantine period, it added.
The eased rule also applies to people released from quarantine facilities, as long as their symptoms are slight and they test negative, it said.
People who live with a confirmed case would no longer need to quarantine for three days followed by four days of self-health management, but would have to conduct self-health management for seven days, the center said, adding that the rule would apply to everyone regardless of their vaccination status.
Testing every two days would still be required, it added.
The CECC yesterday reported 26,357 new COVID-19 cases, including 21 imported cases, as well as 62 deaths.
The deceased ranged in age from their 30s to their 90s, and all but two had underlying health issues, while 32 had not been vaccinated against COVID-19, it said.
Additional reporting by CNA
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