TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A new feature will be added to a government-sponsored website providing information on the availability of quarantine rooms as Taiwan braces for an expected influx of visitors ahead of the Lunar New Year.

The feature is scheduled to be launched on Thursday evening (Nov. 11) on “Taiwan Stay” (台灣旅宿網), a website operated by the Tourism Bureau providing information on certified lodgings, said Chang Hsi-tsung (張錫聰), the bureau's director.

The availability of each city's quarantine rooms will be displayed in three colors. Red indicates full capacity, yellow refers to fewer than 20 rooms, and green suggests over 20 rooms, Chang said.

Currently, the management of certified accommodation facilities for COVID-19 isolation varies, with some municipalities more transparent about disclosing relevant information than others. Arrivals are advised to check room availability on the website before making inquiries at specific city or county sites, he said.

There are a total of 26,000 such rooms nationwide, with Taipei taking the lion’s share with 10,000. The number is expected to increase to 32,000 by the end of the year, CNA quoted Chang as saying.

Meanwhile, New Taipei, the most populous city in Taiwan, has called for additional centralized isolation units to be made available for citizens returning for the Lunar New Year. The city's COVID hotels were at 61% capacity as of Wednesday.

The Central Epidemic Command Center has promised to provide 3,000 to 3,500 rooms at centralized facilities to cope with the surge in arrivals. Visit the booking website to make reservations.