Selected Helpful Posts Related to Covid (May 2021- )

[TAIWAN COVID TESTS | MAY 25]

[SELF-PAID COVID TESTS AT TZU CHI HOSPITAL AND FAR EASTERN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL IN TAIPEI]

I was able to get an appointment at Tzu Chi Hospital in Taipei for the week after next. It looks like now they have appts starting June 9th and later.
Self-paid Covid-19 Test - 台北慈濟醫院 (tzuchi.com.tw)

Also Far Eastern hospital, but you can only book 13 days in advance so I think you just need to be really quick when you want the appointment

FAR EASTERN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL-Out-of-pocket COVID-19 PCR testing (femh.org.tw)

I hope this is helpful to someone. I spent a long time yesterday calling around to different hospitals trying to get an appointment.

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[TAIWAN COVID TESTS | MAY 26]

I found an online form for a Taichung hospital.

Unfortunately, there are 18 pages to complete–including one where you download a hospital PDF and complete it. 18 pages!

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[NETHERLANDS | MAY 29]

Are you certain this is the actual requirement? I think any of the NAAT-type tests qualifies, not all of them rolled into one.

From NL govt:
https://www.government.nl/topics/coronavirus-covid-19/visiting-the-netherlands-from-abroad/mandatory-negative-test-results-and-declaration/requirements-pcr-test-result

  • Type of test: the test used must be a molecular NAAT (PCR) test (either PCR, RT PCR, LAMP, TMA or mPOCT). No other type of test, including antigen tests and serological tests (blood tests to detect antibodies), is valid;
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[CANADA | MAY 21]

Sort of true given your situation, but not entirely true for everyone.

https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/latest-travel-health-advice/mandatory-hotel-stay-air-travellers/list-government-authorized-hotels-booking.html

At this time, to prevent the spread of COVID-19, you must book and pay for a 3-night hotel stopover before you arrive in Canada . You’ll stay at the government-authorized hotel while you await your arrival test results

So there are a few options:

  1. Book and Airbnb instead, or another hotel. The quarantine in Canada allows you to move between locations. Many hotels are actually offering special accommodations. Ie: https://ywcavan.org/hotel/rooms/self-quarantine-room-rates-and-rooms-self-isolation

  2. Fly to a US City, and drive over the border. U.S. taxi services see business boost helping Canadians avoid hotel quarantine | CBC News. This avoids the hotel quarantine altogether. Bonus points, you can get the J&J vaccination for free in the US! Even if you aren’t American

  3. Fly in via Calgary first. As Alberta hasn’t signed an agreement with the Feds regarding Covid restrictions enforcement you won’t get a ticket if you don’t hotel quarantine. Alberta can't ticket travellers refusing to quarantine because it hasn't adopted federal act | CBC News

  4. Just wait. The Order in Council that mandates hotel quarantine is about to expire. There’s also a court chase challenging it scheduled for early June. The folks over at FlyerTalk are pretty informed on this issue: Canada officials say vaxx req for visitors, random testing to end by 30 Sept.2022 - FlyerTalk Forums

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[CANADA | MAY 21]

Never closed to commercial travel, Canadian citizens, or those with prior authorization to enter Canada (ie, family reunification) https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-covid19/visitors/immediate-family.html

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[USA | MAY 21]

Sure. California, Texas, New York doesn’t make residency a requirement. Think about all the illegal immigrants in those states. They need the vaccine too. https://flytrippers.com/getting-vaccinated-for-free-in-the-usa-our-first-impressions/

You would get it at a pharmacy like in the post above.

So my advice is book TPE - SFO, chill for a day, then go onwards to Canada. Or if you have a long layover (4.5hrs plus) you can probably find a pharmacy in San Mateo (where SFO is) to get the vaxxx.

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[CANADA | MAY 28]

It looks like the three-day mandatory quarantine at a government-approved hotel might come to an end. That would make things a bit easier.

https://globalnews.ca/news/7900065/canada-expert-panel-travelers-quarantine/

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[USA | MAY 19]

For US:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/testing-international-air-travelers.html

Passengers must be tested with a viral test that could be either an antigen test or a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT).

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[TAIWAN COVID TEST | MAY 20]

Does everyone have this list?

https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/documents/publications/2021/05/18/designated-hospital-list-for-out-of-pocket-covid-19-pcr-testing-in-taiwan

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[USA/TAIWAN COVID TEST | MAY 20]

For anyone who plans to go to the US and come back to TW, buy one of these and bring it with you.

https://www.emed.com/products/covid-at-home-testkit-six-pack?hsLang=en

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[USA | MAY 26]

I am in the US right now. Left last week. There is so much vaccine here it’s crazy. Got my first Pfizer jab within hours of landing at SFO. They’re playing radio ads basically begging the people who still haven’t been vaxxed to do so, and there are now even contests to try to encourage vaccination.

Yes, I’m a US citizen but the information about eligibility is crystal clear.

Do I need to be a California resident to get COVID-19 vaccine?

No. Vaccine distribution is based on eligibility irrespective of residency or immigration status.

If you have a way to get into the US I am far more confident (99.9999999999999% certain) you can easily get a jab than I am hopeful the situation in TW is going to get better quickly.

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[TAIWAN COVID TEST | MAY 27]

I got my PCR test at Shuangho Hospital (雙和醫院). The testing process took about 1.5 hrs. Most of it was just waiting in line.

The outdoor testing site is right by the entrance to the Emergency Department(急診大門). To reach it, turn left from the main entrance (where all the taxis are), turn right alongside the building, and then go straight. You should see a line or at least a group of hospital workers outside the Emergency Department entrance. See this map for more info.

I arrived at 8:30 am and was 21st in line. That day there were about 50 people total. I think they will accept anyone who is standing in line before 10 am.

Around 9 am someone will give you a sticker that indicates your position in line. They will also check your forms and ID and give you another form which you need to fill out.

Sometime later, someone else will come around and collect your documents and IDs. You will need proof of travel, your passport and any ARC IDs, photocopies of those IDs, and the self-expense COVID testing application form.

After a while they will return your IDs to you. When you reach the main entrance, you will be called into a tent area to another line. Once your name is called, you go into the testing room where they take a nasal swab. They give you a receipt afterwards.

You then take that receipt to the cashier inside the Emergency Department and pay 7000 TWD. As is common in Taiwan, my foreign credit card did not work so I paid cash.
After paying they will give you another receipt. Keep this to pick up your test results later.

You can pickup your test results at the main cashier inside the main hospital building. This is to the right from the main entrance.

You can only pick up your results after 7:00 pm. I went at 6:59 pm and they would not give me my results, so I waited a minute, took another ticket, and went back to the cashier. You will need to give them your passport and the receipt.

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[USA | MAY 23]

Appears NYC is opening vaccines to tourists/visitors:

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[VIETNAM | JUNE 1]

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[THAILAND | June 1]

You’re posting in the right thread. But I have some bad news for you and your ladyboy escort.

The popular resort island of Phuket is set to welcome fully vaccinated international visitors quarantine-free starting July 1, three months earlier than the rest of the country.

https://www.travelpulse.com/news/destinations/thailand-proposes-1-per-night-deal-to-entice-tourists-back-to-phuket.html

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[USA | JUNE 3]

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[TAIWAN | JUNE 3]

https://www.immigration.gov.tw/media/64829/restrictions-on-entering-taiwan-0527.pdf

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[USA | JUNE 8]

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[USA | JUNE 9]

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