Taipei, Aug. 10 (CNA) A pre-flight COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test requirement will be lifted for all travelers entering Taiwan after midnight on Aug. 14, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced on Wednesday.

The regulation requiring travelers to present a negative PCR test result taken within 48 hours of boarding their flight to Taiwan was previously lifted for Taiwan citizens and holders of alien resident certificates (ARC) on July 14 but was still required for foreign nationals without ARCs.

At a press conference Wednesday, CECC head Victor Wang (王必勝) said that although the CECC had decided to lift the pre-flight test requirement, mandatory on-arrival PCR tests, three days of quarantine, and four days of self-initiated epidemic prevention would remain in place.

People who contract COVID-19 abroad will also still be prohibited from flying to Taiwan within seven days of the day they tested positive, according to the CECC.

Meanwhile, because Taiwan is expecting a spike in BA.5 subvariant cases in mid- to late-August, the CECC currently has no plans to open to foreign tourists or allow domestic tour groups to travel to other countries, Wang said.

Taiwan most recently loosened its border restrictions on July 25, when it began allowing entry to foreign volunteers, missionaries, and interns, as well as people visiting Taiwan for language or religious seminars, international exchanges, and working holidays.