uanj

I don't believe foreigners and Taiwanese and their diaspora are treated the same already. I was assigned a line group, had to report my temperature twice a day the whole time, and when I wanted to go out during the +4 I had to take a picture of my negative home test and get an OK from the Foreign Police. They called me a few times as well but all easy peasy. Someone who arrived two weeks later, also a foreigner, only had to report his temperature once a day for three days and then "promise" to use his home test report before going out.

I think they are continually relaxing all these restrictions as infections are stable or coming down and there has been no strain on the medical system. They have actually done a good job measuring the efforts and cost for each step and what it is gaining them and if it is a big effort with little gain, it is dropped. Diametrically opposite approach as China.

This is why I think if the situation remains stable by end October most restrictiosn will be gone. Anyway, just my opinion.

Skyman65

As a "foreigner" who just went through the 3+4 in mid-July, my experience was that no Line group was used. During the first 3 days, they texted me a couple times to ask if I was feeling well, and I just needed to reply with a "1" to say yes. My wife (Taiwanese) was called by phone every day by the local neighborhood official to confirm she was feeling well. After the 3 days, no further contact was made.

During our 4 day "observation" period, we took our (provided) RATs on days 1 and 3, went grocery shopping, and went for a hike in the mountains. No one ever asked to see our neg tests.

lsquare

What's the mask situation like?

Skyman65

Masks are still required whenever you leave your home, with a few exceptions, including (not exhaustive):

• while exercising (indoors & out)
• participating in water sports, sauna, steam room
• working outdoors
• taking pictures
• in your personal car
• riding motorbike/bicycle
• in the forest/mountains with few people around
• while eating/drinking (of course)

While masks are no longer required while riding a motorbike, my personal observation is that 99% of motorbike riders here are still masked.

lsquare

🤣🤣😂😂

uanj

Just a clarification: I think that most TRAVEL restrictions will be lifted by end October, would not be suprised, however, if masks are still required in many places.

lsquare

Sounds like Singapore and I can live with that. I think most of us can live with that if that's what it'll take for Taiwan to open up.

Skyman65

I think what a lot of westerners don't really comprehend is how "not a big deal" masks are here. You might occasionally hear some mild complaints here and there, but by-and-large, few people here really have a problem with the mask requirements. So there's not a huge groundswell of support to relax the rules at this point.

lsquare

It's like Singapore. On my last trip, it seemed like most people were complying with the rule.

Topcare

lol also. That one item makes all the others pointless theatre.

Weyland Yutani Corp

Agree. It’s been such a wimp issue in the USA. Suddenly everyone had a “breathing problem” or a “freedom” issue. All while Asian countries used masking for years. Laughable.

ithinkurdumb

Were you staying at quarantine hotels? Because the government puts most responsibility on quarantine hotels, when there are conflicting guidelines (mostly in the form of daily press releases), the hotels might choose the strictest. For example, hotels are required to report to the police if their guests did not return by midnight on day 4 - 7, but all the neighborhood officials would say about it is that "the geofence would be disabled by midnight on day 3."

Two other notable exceptions:
- taking a stroll *is* exercising (according to the new chief of the pandemic prevention center)
- karaoke was an exception until the media reported that it is exempted because karaoke is a favorite pastime of the dentist tyrant

I'm all for masking up while indoor, but allowing eating/drinking in places that otherwise would require masking is just plain idiotic. This also makes the MRT the safest places as no eating/drinking is allowed
​​​​​​

Skyman65

Yes, but they were quick to point out that "shopping" (逛街) while strolling unmasked is verboten.

lsquare

🤣🤣🤣

That's hilarious!

ithinkurdumb

Well because he got bombed on social media, which is the gold standard of Taiwan's approach to Covid

Must-win Wang (the new chief) said that "while strolling in the park, no mask is necessary because there is a lot of space. But when window shopping in a department store, mask is required because it is crowded. It all comes to the ability to maintain social distancing."

If only the TW CDC can use the ability to maintain social distancing as the basis of requiring mask from the start, like, based on science?