Flying into, landing in TPE and quarantine life

With the previous posts covering my lead up to the move, it seems logical to move on to the process of flying into TPE. Please note, that the following is based on Covid conditions.

Step 1 - get a Covid test performed within 72 hours of the flight. In Ontario and B.C. this can be done through Life Labs, and details can be found here. It's a fairly straight forward process. Their website as a calculator to determine the period during which the test can be taken. Can book the test online. For Taiwan need the PCR/NAAT test which has a cost of $199+tax. The test itself is done at a Shoppers Drug Mart location in Toronto, and there's a listing where you can choose the closest location. After paying for the test online, there will be a form available to print that you will need to take with you along with your passport to the test location. They use a nose swab which takes a few seconds, and they email the test results within 24-48 hours after the test.

Step 2 - within 48 of landing in TPE need to fill in the quarantine form which can be found here. The form can be filled in either for a quarantine hotel or for home. for home quarantine you are required to have either your own place, or a place in which you will have your own bedroom and bathroom. I quarantined at home, and my experiences in quarantine will be based on that. 

Step 3 - checking in to the flight. You will need to have the Covid test results either printed or on your phone. I chose to print mine for simplicity. You will also need your passport (obviously), in my case the gold card, or an entry permit, and the filled in quarantine application. If you do not fill in the quarantine application before you reach the airport, they will have you fill it in there. Eva Air will also have to fill in their health check form at the airport. 

After the above you should be good to board.

After getting off the plane, the first thing one encounters are the xray machines for carry on. This is in place to ensure no food is being brought into Taiwan as carry on. Following this begins the walk towards the baggage claim area. 

The first step is customs where they verify the documents and give you a stamp. This is pretty straight forward.

Following this there will be two lines, one to get a local prepaid sim card if you don’t have a local sim and another for the luggage and exit.

I started at the prepaid sim card line as I did not have a local sim. There were only two options at the time neither one of which had a data plan. The options were only good for phone calls and texts. This wasn't an issue for me during the two week quarantine period, but it became an issue during the self health management week, as I had no data, and cannot get a sim card until the third week is over. As I headed for the other line, the number for my local sim card was entered into the quarantine system.

As you exit your quarantine paperwork will likely get checked 2-3 times and as I didn't speak Mandarin and can't write or read, the airport employees filled in the paperwork for the taxi that took me to the home quarantine. I collected my luggage and headed for the taxis.

The taxi driver was provided with the sheet with the address I was going to, and after getting my luggage sprayed down with what appeared like an alcohol disinfectant, along with my clothes, hands, and shoes, it was into the taxi and off to the quarantine location.

Once I entered the building, it took 5 minutes or so before I got a call from the quarantine department. On the first call the person on the other end of the call didn't speak English so I was called back by the Banqiao police. They kept telling me that I am not allowed to leave the unit and that they would be checking on me at random. Every day for 14 days, I would get a text in the morning asking to text back with my health condition and a call at a random time by the police department to confirm my health. I made their life easy as I did not leave my unit at all.

A few things I learned over my quarantine, but keep in mind I live in a building with security, elevators, and cameras everywhere.

• Everyone in the building seemed to know I was in quarantine, and I am certain that had I tried to leave the unit or building it would not have taken long for the police to find out.
• My friend who got me the unit, would come by to check in on me and bring me food. If he stayed on the floor for longer than 3 minutes or so, someone would come up to ensure I was in my unit, and he was outside keeping distance
• They take quarantine very seriously. It is just 14 days
• 
  Ordering food - the only services I was able to find for food delivery were Food Panda and Uber Eats. One major obstacle with these services. Outside of western restaurant chains such as MacDonald's and KFC, most of the other places had menus in Mandarin only with no pictures. Let's just say that ordering food took a very long time, and required two devices. One with the app open and the other with Google Lens. Wasn't perfect, but it worked.
  
  
• The ordering apps will get you ready for life in the local markets, as it's identical.

You have survived the two weeks of quarantine and are now ready for the self health week. During this week still get the daily health check texts but no more phone calls. You are now free to walk around with a mask on, but cannot go anywhere with a large crowd, can't meet up with anyone, and can't take transit. The plus side, can grab your own food now at any local places. I stayed away from indoor places, and only grabbed street food to stay outside. That said it was difficult avoiding the crowds but it is manageable.

Quarantine is now over and the next phases begin.