Taiwan will allow visa-free entry again for visitors from more than 20 countries from next week, the Central Epidemic Command Centre (CECC) said on Monday.

CECC director Wang Pi-sheng said at a press conference that from September 12, visa-free entry would be allowed for citizens of the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the European Union and Taiwan’s 14 formal diplomatic allies.

Mr Pi-sheng said the move was made in light of the fact that many countries had already reopened their borders according to pre-pandemic regulations.

He said it would also balance the needs of continued pandemic control with the promotion of economic growth, social activity and international interaction.

He said whether the liberalisation was  expanded would depend on the progress of pandemic control.

He urged travellers to Taiwan to abide by the requirement of “three days quarantine and four days health self-management” and other pandemic prevention measures.

The CECC said that 34,358 new cases were confirmed Sunday, including 232 imported cases, and that 35 persons had died from the disease.

According to CECC data, Taiwan has had a total of 10,094 deaths from COVID-19, of which 10,078 were from domestic cases.

(dpa/NAN)