Business travelers arriving from certain countries will be allowed to apply to shorten the length of their mandatory 14-day quarantine upon entering Taiwan from June 22, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said Wednesday.

On June 17, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced the conditions under which short-term business travelers can apply for reduced amount of time of home quarantine. As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has continued to subside in Taiwan, the CECC had several consultation meetings with relevant government agencies in a bid to reopen borders for international business and trade activity.

Taiwan is devising regulations that will make it easier for business travelers to visit Taiwan after border restrictions are relaxed, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said Monday. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Taiwan has barred foreign nationals, with some exceptions, from entering the country since March 19, and all overseas arrivals, including Taiwanese nationals, are subject to a 14-day quarantine upon entry.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) gave its assurance Tuesday that the country's health will remain a priority amid the COVID-19 pandemic when the government discusses mutual relaxation of border restrictions with other countries.

The border control measures implemented in Taiwan to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus will remain in place, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said Wednesday, while announcing an easing of social distancing guidelines soon. The announcement came as the country marked its 45th day of no new domestically transmitted coronavirus cases.

Travel from Taiwan to Vietnam remains difficult as the Southeast Asian country still has strict border control measures in place, affecting even repatriation of illegal Vietnamese workers, an official said Saturday.

Taiwan is planning to reduce the quarantine period for visitors arriving on short-term business trips, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said Wednesday, as it reported no new COVID-19 cases in the country for the 13th straight day. Business travelers on two- or three-day trips, arriving from countries such as New Zealand, which are at extremely low risk for COVID-19, will be required to remain in quarantine for five days instead of two weeks, the CECC said.

The suspension of all outbound and inbound tours imposed on Taiwanese travel agencies will be further extended until the end of June, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread across the world, the Tourism Bureau said Tuesday. The ban, which began on March 19, was originally scheduled to last until the end of April. It was then extended until May 31. The further extension of the ban by one month is due to the still grave COVID-19 pandemic worldwide, the Tourism Bureau said.

Taiwan is considering reducing the amount of time business travelers who want to make short visits to the country would have to stay in quarantine upon arrival, the country's health minister said Saturday. Health Minister Chen Shih-chung (陳時中) said in an interview published Saturday that discussions are being held to open Taiwan's borders for business and trade activity at a time when the COVID-19 outbreak seems to be coming under control.

On May 2, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced that beginning 00:00 Taipei Standard Time on May 4, inbound travelers returning from overseas should complete the COVID-19 Health Declaration and Home Quarantine Notice and confirm if their residence satisfies the home quarantine requirements before boarding.