1. The Central Epidemic Command Center for Severe and Special Infectious Pneumonia (CECSPI) issued letter No. 1113700231 dated May 9, 2011 (attached).
In view of the short incubation period of the Omicron variant, the Center has adjusted the home quarantine policy to "shorten the home quarantine period to 7 days, and to provide 7 days of independent health management after the quarantine period" in order to maintain the capacity of domestic epidemic prevention, socio-economic activities, and effective risk control.
The main points of the home quarantine policy are summarized as follows.
     (1) Target group: Persons entering Taiwan from 00:00 on May 9, 2012 (scheduled arrival time of flights), excluding those who will be subject to the restart of the "Key High Risk Countries" program due to the detection of emerging mutations.
     (2) Calculation of quarantine days: The 7-day quarantine period starts from the day of entry and the test result is negative at the end of the quarantine period, followed by 7 days of independent health management on the 8th day after entry.
     (3) Place of quarantine: The principle of "one person per household at the residence of the family or friends" is maintained. If the quarantine environment of the household does not meet the requirement of one person per household, the family must stay in a quarantine hotel to complete the 7-day quarantine. The aforementioned definition of "one person, one household" is listed in detail in the "Principles of Care and Visiting Operations of Local Government for the Home Quarantine Population".
     (D) General principles.
     1. Family members/residents of the same day of entry may stay together at the quarantine site (quarantine lodging/household or residence of relatives or friends) during the quarantine period.
     (2) If an incoming person has individual needs for common care during the quarantine period, he/she may be taken care of by a family member/resident of the incoming person or a family member of the non-home quarantine person during the quarantine period, in accordance with the current regulations.
     (3) People in the outlying islands will remain on the island for 7 days after entering the island from abroad until the expiration of the quarantine period.
     (4) During the quarantine period, electronic fencing measures are maintained for incoming residents, and they are managed and cared for by the local government's civil affairs unit, the police unit's foreign affairs staff, and school personnel according to their status.
     (E) Testing measures
     1、PCR test: At the time of entry (day 0), the PCR test will be conducted at the international port in accordance with the current operation.
     2、Fast home screening reagent testing.
     (1) On the day of expiration of the quarantine period (day 7), a quick screening will be conducted and the test result will be negative and the quarantine period will expire before the quarantine site can be left and the independent health management will continue for 7 days; a spare dose of quick screening reagent will be provided for use when symptoms appear during the quarantine period.
     (2) The required home screening test will be given by the staff at each international port upon entry, and instructions will be given to explain the implementation of related matters. If the incoming personnel subsequently report that they have not received the quick screening reagent, that the contents of the reagent are incomplete, or that the quick screening cannot be completed due to inadvertent loss or improper operation, the local government will assist in reissuing the reagent to the incoming personnel.
 (3) Considering the age restriction of the target of home fast screening reagents, those who are under 2 years old (age on the date of entry) will be arranged by the local government to go to the designated medical institution for PCR testing on the day when the quarantine period expires. The local government shall arrange personnel to assist the incoming personnel to conduct the quick screening test if they cannot operate the quick screening by themselves.
     　　    (4) The report of the fast screening results on the day of the expiration of the quarantine period for the incoming personnel.
     　　    A. According to the identity of the incoming personnel, when the civil affairs unit, the foreign affairs staff of the police unit, and the relevant school personnel carry out health care, they will confirm the completion of the test and register the fast screening results in the "epidemic prevention tracking system"; in addition, in order to reduce the burden of the front-line personnel, a new two-way SMS tracking mechanism has been added since May 6, this year. The batch of fast screening results will be sent to the epidemic prevention tracking system/case tracking record/registered screening results via SMS.
     　　    B. When the aforementioned management unit is informed that the inbound person reports a "positive" fast screening result, it should contact the Health Bureau of the local government and the Health Bureau will arrange for the person with a positive fast screening result to go to a designated medical institution for PCR testing and, while waiting for the test result, the Health Bureau will assist in placement matters at its discretion. If the result is "unknown", please ask the incoming worker to conduct the fast screening test again (e.g., using the original fast screening reagent provided) and report the fast screening result, or contact the Health Bureau horizontally to arrange PCR test.
     　　    (f) For a collection of questions and answers related to 1-person-1-family and rapid screening during the quarantine period, please refer to the Department of Health and Welfare, Centers for Disease Control Global Information Website (https://www.cdc.gov.tw)/COVID-19 Immunization Area/Q&A/Q&A/Q45, Q70, and Q71 of the Department.
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