Aligning with central government’s policy to combat COVID-19, Tainan City Government has announced that starting from Feb. 2, passengers on Tainan City Buses must refrain from consuming any food or beverage except for physical needs, such as drinking water, taking medicine, and breastfeeding. If such a need occurs, one can temporarily take off the mask, and put back the mask once finished eating or drinking. Throughout this period of time without a mask, one must also maintain social distance from surrounding people or ensure that there is adequate physical separation in between. As stipulated in the regulations during the Autumn-Winter Epidemic Prevention and Control Campaign, everyone must wear a face mask at public transportation stations and on public transportation vehicles.
Since many traditional Lunar New Year markets are closed or restricted this year because of the pandemic, the government anticipates larger crowds in shopping malls or retail stores, and therefore requires these businesses to implement stringent pandemic prevention measures. These sanitation practices include taking temperature of visitors at the entrance, offering automatic alcohol sprayer, suspending tasting sessions, and offering consumers sanitary gloves. Businesses must also set up separation panels or dividers on tables in food courts, and store fresh food and serving utensils in covered containers to avoid transmission. People visiting these shopping areas must also wear face masks at all times and adhere to these sanitation guidelines. The government urges everyone to work together in fighting against COVID-19, so that we can all safely enjoy the new year vacation.
The city government will increase inspection frequency to make sure that the public fully complies with all epidemic prevention and control regulations. If anyone fails to comply with the regulations, he/she will be subject to a fine between NT$3,000 and NT$15,000 according to Subparagraph 6, Paragraph 1, Article 37 of the Communicable Disease Control Act.