COVID-19 Central Epidemic Command Center Official Letter

I. As is stated in Article 7 of the Special Act on COVID-19 Prevention, Relief and Restoration (hereinafter “the Special Act”), “the commander of the Central Epidemic Command Center may impose necessary response dispositions or measures when necessary for the sake of curbing the pandemic.”

II. Regulations in response to the development of the COVID-19 pandemic on hospital staff visiting other countries are as follows:
(I) Scope of Application: Healthcare professionals and social workers serving in hospitals.
(II) Restricted regions: Level-3 Travel Health Notice regions: No travel is allowed unless under special circumstances. Level-1 and Level-2 Travel Health Notice regions: No travel is allowed without prior approval.
(III) Approval procedure: For meetings, official duties, or other reasons for travel to level-3 regions, the respective hospital of the staff must report to the Ministry of Health and Welfare for approval. For travel to level-1 or level-2 regions, approval must be obtained from the respective hospital of the staff.
(IV) Duration: From February 23, 2020, to June 30, 2020, which duration may be shortened or extended depending on the development of the pandemic.
(V) As required by the COVID-19 Central Epidemic Command Center, people who have visited other countries must be subject to home quarantine or self-health management for 14 days upon entering Taiwan, and those people may not engage in medical care during the 14-day period.

III. Violators of the response dispositions or measures under Article 7 of the Special Act will be subject to a fine of no less than NT$50,000 and no more than NT$1 million, in accordance with Article 16 of the Special Act.

IV. Losses incurred as a result of international travel plans that have been canceled as required for prevention against the spread of the pandemic will be reimbursed by the Ministry of Health and Welfare according to the Special Act and applicable regulations.

V. Reimbursement as mentioned above is restricted to a date of purchase prior to February 23, 2020 (inclusive) and a departure date of travel (inclusive) within the duration of implementation of this regulation. Related receipts and supporting documents must be submitted in their entirety; the respective hospital shall combine such documentation in one application and submit it to the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Such reimbursements are based on actual costs incurred and no repeated costs are allowed. The Ministry of Health and Welfare will provide details in separate notices.

VI. The regulations on visiting other countries does not restrict the existing right to go on leave that applicable parties are entitled to. If marriage leave cannot be fulfilled within the statutory period due to the fight against the pandemic, such leave may be deferred by up to one year after the end of the pandemic. For annual special leave that has not been taken by the end of the year, a deferral may be applied to defer the leave to the following year, if the applicant so chooses.