Corona and Democracy - Taiwan

Information on COVID-19 measures and democracy

• All clubs and dance halls were closed on 10 April
• There has not been any shut down of theaters, department stores, and, most importantly, schools although gatherings of more than 100 people inside and of more than 500 outside are discouraged.
• 14 days of home isolation is mandatory for those who have come in contact with a COVID-19 patient: persons in home isolation are not allowed to leave home, this is monitored twice daily. Fines are in place for people who violate home isolation.
• 14 days of home quarantine for those who have travelled overseas: persons in home quarantine are not allowed to leave home, this is monitored twice daily. High fines are in place for people who violate home quarantine.
• 26 January: Forbids Chinese tourists from entering the country
• 6 February: Taiwan started prohibiting entry by anyone who had been in China or Hong Kong during the previous 14 days. 
• 19 March: the travel ban had been extended to nearly all foreigners without Taiwanese residence certification. All travellers returning from abroad are now required to undergo two weeks of self-quarantine.
• 26 May: The government announced that if there will be no case of local coronavirus until 7 June, there might be early relaxation of the restrictions in place.

27 May:

• Taiwan will loosen restrictions within the nation but maintain strict control measures at the borders

7 June:

• Taiwan will further ease restrictions

24 June:

• Taiwan will ease its coronavirus border restrictions for people from Hongkong, to escape amid the new national security law imposed by China

• How Taiwan battles the Coronavirus
• With command and control, Taiwan excels in managing COVID-19
• Virus Outbreak: Timeline of preventive efforts against COVID-19
• Virus Outbreak: Mechanism for tracking people at risk of contracting COVID-19
• CECC orders hostess clubs, dance halls to suspend operations
• Virus Outbreak: Pandemic disrupts cultural life as events canceled at home and abroad
• Virus Outbreak: Authorities fine three for breaching home quarantine
• https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3940510
• https://taiwan.gov.tw/news.php
• https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-taiwan/taiwan-to-further-ease-coronavirus-restrictions-idUSKBN23E07R

• 80,000 people are under isolation and monitored with daily temperature and symptom checks, which are tracked by phone. Should the GPS data from a quarantined person’s phone indicate movement outside of a certain range, a follow-up phone call will be placed to confirm the person’s location.
• Mobile phone records were used to track the social contacts of those infected with the coronavirus.
• Among other measures, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) can film or photograph people who breach quarantine or people confirmed to have COVID-19, publish their personal information, or take any other measures necessary to contain the spread of the virus.

• Virus outbreak: Special COVID-19 act passed, ratified

• People who spread rumors or disinformation about COVID-19 to the extent that it harms the public interest would face a maximum prison term of three years and a possible fine up to NT$3 million.

• Virus outbreak: Special COVID-19 act passed, ratified

• Taiwan is not a member of the WHO, because of objections from China which as a Permanent Member of the UN Security Council has veto-power over membership, and therefore has limited access to WHO support or data
• People who are furloughed as a result of being placed under quarantine — at home or government-designated buildings — as well as people who need to take leave to take care of quarantined family members, but are not paid by their employers, have up to two years to request compensation from health authorities.

• US sees Coronavirus window to push Taiwan's Global Status#
• Virus outbreak: Special COVID-19 act passed, ratified