The Experience of On-site Testing of Passengers on Arrival Flights at Taoyuan International Airport in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Taiwan, 2022

DOI: 10.6525/TEB.202306_39(11).0002

Ya-Fang Wu^1*, Wan-Ling Hsu², Mei-Jung Chen¹, Yu-Wen Yang¹, Kun-Bin Wu¹

2023 Vol.39 NO.11

Correspondence Author： Ya-Fang Wu^1*

Abstract：

        Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport has brought epidemic prevention to the frontline in response to the increasing number of COVID-19 outbreaks and confirmed cases of airport workers infected with Omicron variants. From 0:00 on January 11, 2022 (flight scheduled arrival time), all passengers from long-haul flights were required to undergo a government-funded rapid RT-PCR test on arrival. Passengers with a negative test proceeded to customs and immigration clearance, and then took quarantine vehicles to quarantine hotels or government facilities to complete quarantine. Those who tested positive were transferred to a designated hospital by ambulance on the airside of the airport. The measures aimed to reduce the risks of entry clearance for overseas positive cases and entering the community, and to preserve the community's epidemic prevention and medical capacity.
        Taoyuan International Airport had implemented the testing on arrival for specific flights from January 11 to May 31, 2022. The measures were carried out on 2,534 flights. Among 148,918 people inspected, 6,254 (4.2%) were tested positive. In response to the slowdown of the epidemic situation in specific flight countries, the inspections on arrival were terminated on June 1, 2022. All incoming travelers from abroad only required a saliva test at the airport. We look forward to utilizing the experience of handling responses to the on-site inspections at Taoyuan International Airport as a reference for future epidemic control measures.