People subject to home quarantine, home isolation, or self-health management and those with suspected symptoms of COVID-19 will be prohibited from attending the Taipei New Year’s Eve countdown party, the city government said Monday.

The countdown party will start at 6 p.m. on Dec. 31 at Taipei City Hall Square and last until 1 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2022, the city’s health department said in a statement.

With huge crowds of revelers expected to throng the event venue who are virtually unknown to each other but will likely be in close contact with each other for a long period of time, the city is taking necessary precautionary measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, according to the statement.

Starting 5 p.m. on Dec. 31, all event participants will be required to wear face masks, have their temperatures taken, and their hands sanitized before entering the venue.

Event organizers will also enforce real-name registration rules, which will require revelers to disclose their identities upon entry into the venue.

In addition, alcohol-based hand sanitizers and disinfectants will be provided at service counters and nursing rooms, while forehead thermometers will be made available at the site.

Those under quarantine, isolation, or self-health management and those with symptoms such as fever, respiratory symptoms, diarrhea, abnormal sense of smell or taste will not be allowed entry to the venue.

Based on the Communicable Disease Control Act, contacts of confirmed cases could be fined NT$60,000-NT$300,000 (US$2,168-US$10,833) if they attend the party during their seven-day self-health management period.

Meanwhile, people with a recent history of foreign travel could be fined NT$10,000-NT$150,000 if they are found to have breached the self-health management rule.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel