COVID-19期間兩岸航線邊境檢疫防疫措施與執行成效──以2023年中國直航航線暨金馬地區民眾春節交通專案為例

Effectiveness of Border Quarantine and Epidemic Prevention Measures for Cross-Strait Routes During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Study of the 2023 Lunar New Year Transportation Project

2020年初，兩岸航班及小三通客船航線即因COVID-19疫情暫停運作，至2023年初之農曆春節前夕，離島地方政府及民眾多次反映冀望恢復兩岸客船航線，然此時中國無預警、全面解除邊境管制且當地多處傳出嚴峻疫情，為兼顧國人返鄉需求及監測當地病毒是否出現未知變異株，臺灣爰規劃「中國直航航線暨金馬地區民眾春節交通專案」，要求自中國搭機（或客船）直航來臺旅客須配合入境PCR檢測措施。本專案自2023年1月1日起計執行五週，於4處機場及2處港口共採檢54,461人次，以男性、本國籍、40–49歲年齡層、無症狀旅客為主。
COVID-19檢驗結果陽性率部分，男性高於女性、本國籍高於非本國籍、有症狀者高於無症狀者、搭機旅客亦高於搭船旅客，且相對風險皆達統計上顯著意義，其中有症狀者風險為無症狀者之3.18倍（95%信賴區間：2.82–3.59）；檢驗結果病毒株未出現未知變異株。此外，中國各啟航地機場來臺旅客之檢驗結果陽性率於初始階段具有差異，然各機場每週皆呈現快速下降趨勢，至第四週之陽性率已趨近相似，第五週則降至1%。
空港主管機關（構）及港埠各單位均緊急動員及適切應變，以減低對旅客入境通關之影響。考量海港作業特殊性，衛生福利部疾病管制署調整本專案之海港檢疫作業模式，加上離島地方政府動員協助，讓專案得以順利監測境外移入變異株、評估疫情趨勢並兼顧離島返鄉民眾需求，此中央及地方政府於港埠之合作經驗，可作為未來合作模式參考。

At the beginning of 2020, cross-Strait flights and“mini-three-links”ferry routes between Taiwan and China were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. By early 2023, before the Lunar New Year, local governments and residents of Taiwan's outlying islands strongly desired to resume these routes. However, China unexpectedly lifted all border controls amid severe local outbreaks. To accommodate Taiwanese nationals returning home and monitor for potential unknown virus variants, a special project was implemented, requiring passengers arriving from China via direct flights and ferries to undergo saliva-based PCR testing upon arrival.
The project commenced on January 1, 2023, and lasted for five weeks, during which 54,461 samples were collected across four airports and two seaports. The participants were mainly male, Taiwanese nationals, aged 40–49 years, and asymptomatic. COVID-19 positive rates were statistically significantly higher among males than females, among Taiwanese nationals than non-nationals, among symptomatic than asymptomatic participants, and among air passengers than ferry passengers. Symptomatic individuals had 3.18 times (confidence limits: 2.82, 3.59) higher risk to test positive for COVID-19 than asymptomatic individuals. No new virus variants were detected. Initially, positive rates varied among travelers from different airports in China but declined rapidly each week. By the fourth week, positive rates had become similar, reaching 1% by the fifth week.
Airport and seaport authorities mobilized rapidly and responded appropriately to minimize the impact on travelers during the entry process, and the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control adjusted quarantine procedures at seaports. With local governments’assistance, the project successfully monitored for imported virus variants, assessed the disease trend, and facilitated people's return home for holidays. This collaborative effort between central and local governments at ports provides a valuable model for future border quarantine.