With the domestic COVID-19 pandemic situation currently stable, Taiwan will further relax its mask mandate, eating and drinking rules and limits for gatherings from Nov. 2, while extending the current COVID-19 Level 2 alert to Nov. 15, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said Thursday.
The Level 2 alert, which has been in place since July 27 and is set to expire on Nov. 1, will be extended for two more weeks, the CECC said.
Taiwan first raised the COVID-19 alert to Level 2 on May 11, after recording cases transmitted in the community, and to Level 3 on May 19 amid a spike in new domestic cases to more than 100 a day.
The CECC lowered the COVID-19 alert to Level 2 on July 27 after a month of reporting fewer than 100 domestically transmitted cases per day.
Meanwhile, the CECC on Thursday announced a slew of relaxations to its COVID-19 preventive measures from Nov. 2, including several exceptions to face mask requirements.
People will no longer be required to wear masks in five types of indoor or outdoor settings from Nov. 2, according to Health and Welfare Minister Chen Shih-chung (???), who heads the CECC.
These include indoor or outdoor venues for singing and exercising; for photo shoots; workplaces relating to agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, or fish farming jobs; forest recreation areas and beaches; water facilities, such as cold and hot springs, spas, saunas and steam rooms.
However, people visiting those places will still be required to carry a mask with them, which they should wear if they develop any symptoms or cannot maintain social distance.
Taiwan initiated a face mask mandate for people taking public transport in April 2020. A comprehensive outdoor mask mandate was introduced after the COVID-19 alert level was raised to Level 3 in mid-May, amid the spike in locally transmitted cases.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel