CECC Commander Victor Wang traveled to Kinmen on Dec. 13 to inspect the epidemic prevention measures, but dashed hopes that the mini three links would be restored by saying the central government has the final say.
CECC Commander Victor Wang listened as port affairs personnel explained the SOPs for people entering via the mini-three links. For example, inbound travelers with a fever or other symptoms will be separated and sent to a hospital. There are also policies for evacuation and transfers to Taiwan proper.
This is Kinmen's Shuitou Pier, which is Kinmen's transportation link with China. The mini-three links were suspended in February 2020 due to the pandemic and have not been restored. Wang traveled to Kinmen on Dec. 13 to inspect epidemic prevention measures. His first stop was Kinmen Hospital, the only hospital serving Kinmen, to learn more about the local medical treatment capacity and whether it is sufficient.
Victor Wang, Commander, Central Epidemic Command Center: “I focused on the number of beds and personnel available for severe cases and in the ICU, as well as whether evacuation mechanisms are smooth. Everything was discussed.”
The distance between Kinmen and Xiamen's Wutong Ferry Terminal is only 9.7 nautical miles and a ferry ride takes just half an hour. Many Taiwanese businesspersons and Chinese students made good use of this service in the past to go back and forth between the two sides. The mini-three links are currently suspended, and the number of airplane flights between China and Taiwan has been greatly reduced. Some businesspersons say tickets to return to Taiwan for the Lunar New Year are very expensive and hard to get. For example, a one-way direct flight from Xiamen to Kaohsiung costs NT$21,000. However, if the mini-three links were open, a ferry ticket from Xiamen to Kinmen plus a flight from Kinmen to Kaohsiung would only total NT$3,650.
Victor Wang, Commander, Central Epidemic Command Center: “With regards to whether any adjustments will be made in the future, that will depend on the actual situation in China, and right now the epidemic situation is worsening.”
The Kinmen County Government said it's ready for the resumption of transport services in terms of both epidemic prevention and transportation.
Yang Cheng-wu, Magistrate, Kinmen County: “(Quarantine) will be carried out based on the practices at all ports of entry and exit. We're also investing in the overall medical treatment and supporting needs. I believe everyone can see that the Kinmen County Government's on-site preparations are already extremely complete. ”
Kinmen County Magistrate-elect Chen Fu-hai and Legislator Chen Yu-jen traveled to Xiamen on Dec. 12 to discuss the resumption of the mini-three links. The Presidential Office said a decision will need to be based on the latest epidemic situation and a comprehensive assessment of the situation, so it hasn't made a decision yet.
仔細聆聽港務人員解說，小三通入境SOP流程，萬一有入境旅客出現發燒等症狀，下一步要如何分流送醫，及後送交通接駁等作業。
這裡是金門水頭碼頭，也是兩岸小三通主要負責客運的碼頭，不過受到新冠肺炎影響，小三通自2020年2月中斷以後，至今尚未復航，疫情指揮中心指揮官王必勝13日週二特地前往金門視察防疫整備狀況，事實上王必勝一早就先到衛福部立金門醫院，也是島上唯一的醫院，了解當地醫療量能，是否足以應付緊急醫療需求。
中央流行疫情指揮中心指揮官王必勝表示：「特別針對像這個重症，那加護病房的床數，他的人員夠不夠？甚至它的這個後送的機制，現在是不是順暢？這些都有做討論。」
從金門大橋放眼望過去，就是中國的廈門，從金門到廈門的五通碼頭，航程只要9.7海浬，航程時間只要半小時。兩岸距離那麼近，過去是許多台商、陸生等，往返兩岸的重要交通管道，如今小三通停駛，兩岸飛機航班又限縮，不少台商反映，農曆春節想返台過年，兩岸機票貴又難買，就以廈門直飛高雄來說，單程大約就要2萬1000元，但若有小三通，廈門到金門船票，加上國內班機，費用只要三千多元。
中央流行疫情指揮中心指揮官王必勝：「之後是不是說，因應我們現在中國的疫情比較升高，是不是要做一些調整？那這個還要再看，中國的實際狀況是怎麼樣。」
而金門縣府則表示，針對復航、金門在防疫與交通上都準備好了。
金門縣長楊鎮浯指出：「我們都是比照所有的進出境的口岸來做的（檢疫），同時再加上地區，因為整體醫療或者是配套的需求，再由地區的政府部門來投入，我相信大家可以看得出來，金門縣政府這一邊，在現場的整備已經都非常的完整了。」
至於金門縣長當選人陳福海、國民黨立委陳玉珍12日也到中國廈門，溝通小三通復航事宜，總統府強調，小三通仍須依據最新疫情發展、及整體評估情勢，目前尚未定案。
