On March 17, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) reported that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has expanded to Asian countries outside China, with more than 10,000 confirmed cases and the number continuing to increase. Numerous countries have declared the outbreak a national emergency and introduced strict border control and quarantine measures. Recently, the epidemic situation in the United States has also escalated. Considering the increased risk of infection, the CECC announced that effective March 19, it will raise its travel notice for 19 countries in Asia, one country in Eastern Europe, and three states in the US to Level 3: Warning. This comes in addition to China (including Hong Kong and Macao), South Korea, and Central Asian countries, which are already subject to a Level 3: Warning travel notice.
The countries and US states covered by this announcement are as follows:
• Asia: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, East Timor, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, North Korea, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam
• Eastern Europe: Moldova
• US states: California, New York, and Washington
The CECC has advised that all nonessential travel to the countries and areas listed above be avoided. Starting at 16:00, March 17, Taiwan time, travelers already on a flight from any of these countries or areas to Taiwan must observe a 14-day period of self-health management after entering Taiwan, while those boarding a flight after that time will be required to undergo a 14-day period of home quarantine.
While only the above three US states have been listed at Level 3: Warning, the CECC has raised the travel notice for all other US states to Level 2: Alert. Travelers to Level 2 states are advised to take strong precautionary measures and will be required to observe a 14-day period of self-health management upon returning to Taiwan.
