March 18, 2020, 04:04 PM
All foreigners will be barred from entering Taiwan from Thursday, March 19, as part of its measures to fight the Covid-19 outbreak.
Foreign arrivals still have to self-quarantine
In an announcement by Taiwan Centres for Disease Control on Wednesday, March. 18, Taiwan added that even if foreign arrivals obtained permission to enter the self-ruled island, they will have to self-quarantine for 14 days.
Taiwan's Health Minister Chen Shih-chung said exceptions will be granted to those with residence permits, diplomats and anyone arriving to carry out commercial contracts.
Singapore raised to Level-3 country
Taiwan had previously added several Asian countries to its list of Level-3 countries and regions, cancelling visa-free entry to citizens from these affected areas.
The announcement comes as Taiwan reported a rise in imported Covid-19 cases in recent days, even as locally-transmitted cases have gone down in number.
Of the 23 cases reported on Wednesday, March 18, 21 were imported cases while just two were locally transmitted.
Top image by Chen Chi-Chuan/AFP via Getty Images
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