Thread by @yaneerbaryam

Taiwan, with quarantines for all arrivals, is launching a first quarantine-free "travel bubble" April 1, with the nation of Palau. Travelers will be able to visit both countries for up to eight days.

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taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4153190

Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. will fly to Taiwan tomorrow, March 28, to kick off the program.

Taiwan has been in conversations on similar "bubbles" with other countries, including Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Vietnam, since late last year.

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travelandleisure.com/travel-news/ta…

On March 18, Taiwan announced that Singapore could be the next country it pursues such a bubble with.

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taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4147742

mothership.sg/2021/03/singap…

Countries already on reduced quarantines for business travelers:

New Zealand, Macau, Palau, Fiji, Brunei, Laos, Nauru, the Marshall Islands, Bhutan, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam.

Taiwan allows business travelers 5-day quarantine instead of 14 days

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taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4159303

There are also "medium risk" countries for which 7-day quarantines are required:

Cambodia, Hong Kong, and Mauritius.

Such partnerships become possible for countries that have #ZeroCovid within their borders.

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Japan and South Korea have come close, at times, to achieving a similar status. Will they opt for elimination this time, for a shot at joining Taiwan's travel bubble?

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A similar quarantine-free travel bubble is planned to reopen April 19 among Canada's Atlantic provinces: Nova Scotia; New Brunswick; Prince Edward Island; Newfoundland and Labrador

Travelers from elsewhere are required to self-quarantine for 14 days

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cbc.ca/news/canada/no…

Australia and New Zealand, are finalizing a similar, long-awaited "trans-Tasman" bubble.

An update is expected on April 6, while logistical details are finalized.

airnewzealand.com.au/trans-tasman-b…

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If China were to set standards for similar travel bubbles, it could have a huge global impact, sending critical income to many countries around the world which have lost tourism, exclusively for #ZeroCovid countries

The impact of such a policy could counter other countries impulse to open unsafely, which has made it difficult to consider elimination in highly tourism dependent countries.

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As more bubbles form, perhaps we a broader travel network will emerge among Covid-free nations.

Hopefully, the economic lure of joining a network could kickstart a "second elimination wave," with many more countries deciding to eliminate Covid and able to #endlockdowns

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While vaccinations, along with "health passports" have been touted as the alternate means to re-opening travel, the ultimate effectiveness of such a strategy remains questionable. It rests hope that vaccines will be a "quick fix", despite variants.

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But current consensus is that a vaccines-only strategy, will result in endemic Covid with variants that evade vaccines and re-emerge to cause outbreaks. Vaccine passports may quickly become out-of-date.

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On the other hand, vaccine assisted elimination is also a #ZeroCovid strategy.

In the end, "quick fixes" are not likely to work.

Countries that have been returning to a good life the soonest, are those that invested in elimination. They are reaping the best returns.

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[Thanks @geekblake for helping prepare today's update.]