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Taiwan to lift indoor mask mandate, resume individual travel with Hong Kong and Macao from 20 February 2023

Taiwan to lift indoor mask mandate, resume individual travel with Hong Kong and Macao from 20 February 2023

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Locals can choose whether to wear a mask or not indoors, while inbound travellers will still need to undergo the seven-day self-initiated prevention period.

As the pandemic continues to subside, Taiwan's Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) has decided to relax indoor mask rules starting 20 February 2023.

Apart from being in designated places/venues and specific situations, the general public can choose whether to wear a mask or not indoors by themselves.

Masks should be worn at all times indoors in the following places/venues:

  • Healthcare facilities: healthcare, medical, and senior welfare institutions, long-term care facilities, veterans home, children and youth services, and care institutions for physically or mentally disabled people.
  • Public transportation and designated vehicles: trains, ships, aircraft, and other vehicles and stations/terminals.

People will not be required to wear masks in the above-mentioned places/venues when they are eating, taking photos, during checkups or during activities where wearing a mask is not appropriate or feasible.

Wearing a mask is recommended in the following situations:

  1. When a fever or respiratory symptoms are present;
  2. When elderly people or people with weak immune systems go out;
  3. When people are in a crowded place where proper distance with others cannot be maintained or ventilation is poor;
  4. When people come into close contact with elderly people or those with weak immune systems (especially those who are not fully vaccinated).

According to the plans of the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health and Welfare, the mask rules and relevant epidemic prevention measures will be reinforced when the new school semester begins at all schools, preschools, after-school care centres, cram schools, and infant care centres. If the pandemic situation is stable, starting from 6 March 2023, the indoor mask requirements will be loosened at schools as well as childcare facilities in accordance with the CECC's general rules.


In addition, in alignment with the further relaxation of epidemic prevention measures, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) in Taiwan has also announced the resumption of individual travel for Hong Kong and Macao residents on the same day (20 February 2023).

All travel restrictions imposed on Hong Kong and Macao travellers during the pandemic will be lifted. The requirement that they must travel in groups to Taiwan, which was implemented on 7 November last year, will also be cancelled.

Eligible travellers from the two cities can apply for Taiwan's entry/exit permits for individual travel through the online application system of the National Immigration Agency of the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) from 9am on 20 February 2023.

All inbound travellers will still need to undergo the seven-day self-initiated prevention period during their stay in Taiwan, during which arrivals should:

  • Stay at home or a residence of a friend or family member or a hotel room that meets the requirement of 'one person per room' (with an en suite bathroom).
  • Take an at-home rapid test when they develop symptoms. Infected travellers with mild symptoms can receive home care at a quarantine hotel or at the place where they undergo self-initiated epidemic prevention (general hotel not included). They are not allowed to take public transportation if they need to receive medical services or examinations.
  • Wear masks at all times when outside, and maintain social distancing.
  • Dine alone or with specific persons in a separate space in a restaurant if they need to eat. They should immediately put on a mask when they leave their seat or finish eating.
  • Avoid coming into contact with persons who have a high risk of developing severe COVID-19 (including elderly people 65 and older, children under six, and individuals who are immunocompromised or have a weak immune system).
  • Present a negative rapid test result if they need to visit hospitals or long-term care facilities.

Images / Shutterstock

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