Taiwan announced that it would relax its existing travel limitations for residents of Hong Kong and Macao based on humanitarian considerations, as the coronavirus pandemic begins to stabilize.

From next Monday, residents of Hong Kong and Macao can apply to enter Taiwan for “humanitarian reasons or emergency situations,” according to the island’s Central Epidemic Command Centre. Residents of the two special administrative regions may also seek entry for commercial and contractual obligations as well as for internal transfers at international corporations. Foreign spouses and children who possess Taiwan residency cards as well as those who hold business residency visas are also eligible for entry.

The CECC added that foreign nationals may apply for entry for commercial and trade reasons.

Taiwan had previously announced its support for Hong Kong residents involved in a pro-democracy movement that has included protests against a looming national security law being pushed by Beijing.

Authorities stressed that those who plan to enter the island must show proof that they had tested negative for COVID-19 no more than three days prior to traveling. They must also be quarantined for 14 days upon arrival.

The island has been held up as an example of successful coronavirus response. So far, it has recorded just 446 cases of COVID-19 and seven deaths.

Last week, a 20-year-old Japanese student who lived in the south of Taiwan tested positive for the coronavirus after she arrived at Tokyo’s Narita Airport from Taiwan on June 20. After being notified by Japan’s health ministry, Taiwanese authorities quarantined 140 people who had been in close contact with the student.

Taiwanese health minister Chen Shih-chung said he would not rule out the possibility that the student contracted the virus on the island and that if it was confirmed as such, the student would be treated as a locally transmitted case. Taiwan has so far recorded 73 days without a locally transmitted coronavirus case.

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