Staff members of six overseas offices and centers supervised by the Ministry of Culture are currently working remotely from home as a precautionary measure to counter the spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19.
The six agencies that have activated their remote work system are the Taipei Cultural Center in New York, Taiwan Academy in Los Angeles, Taiwan Academy in Washington, D.C., Culture Division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Malaysia, Cultural Division of the Taipei Representative Office in the UK, and Taiwan Cultural Center in Paris.
The Ministry currently has staff stationed in the United States, Australia, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, France, Germany, Russia, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
Since the gravity of the outbreak came to light in January, the Ministry has prioritized the wellbeing and health of its overseas staff and provided supplies for epidemic prevention and control. Essential items were prepared and delivered before the "Level 3" travel warning was issued by Taiwan's Central Epidemic Command Center.
As of March 20, all foreign nationals are barred from entering without residency or diplomatic status, and all incoming travelers to Taiwan will be required to undergo a 14-day period of quarantine, regardless of nationality. More information on travel restrictions can be found here.
As for the events organized by the Ministry's overseas offices, most of them have been postponed or temporarily suspended in compliance with the orders issued by their respective host countries. More immediate updates will be provided through the websites and social media accounts listed below:
Taiwan Cultural Center in Tokyo
The Kwang Hwa Information and Cultural Centre
Cultural Division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Malaysia
Cultural Division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Thailand
Taiwan Academy in Washington, D.C.
Taipei Cultural Center in New York
Taiwan Academy in Houston
Taiwan Academy in LA
Centre culturel de Taiwan à Paris
Cultural Division of the Taipei Representative Office in the U.K.
Taipeh Vertretung in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland
Oficina Económica y Cultural de Taipei en España
Representative Office in Moscow for the Taipei-Moscow Economic and Cultural Coordination Commission