Masked workers disinfect a passenger thoroughfare at the Taoyuan International Airport, Taiwan on Jan 22, 2020. (CHEN CHI-CHUAN / AFP)

TAIPEI - Taiwan will ban entry to the island for most foreigners as part of coronavirus prevention measures, excluding foreign resident permit holders, diplomats and anyone arriving to carry out commercial contracts, the government said on Wednesday, as it battles a rise in imported cases.

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The island’s government has also asked residents not to travel abroad unless necessary

The ban on arrivals will start Thursday, according to Chen Shih-chung, the head of Taiwan’s coronavirus command center.

Taiwan has won plaudits from health experts for its efforts to effectively control the spread of the virus, but it is now reporting daily rises in cases from people returning to the island from other countries, especially Europe.

The island’s government has already asked Taiwan residents not to travel abroad unless necessary, and has now stepped up its controls to stop from midnight the entry of most foreigners.

Chen, announcing the new rules, said that all people entering Taiwan will also be put into home quarantine for 14 days.

The government did not say when the new measures might end.

The island’s government announced 10 and 23 new cases on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, 29 of them imported by people returning from overseas travel.

Taiwan has so far reported 100 cases of the coronavirus, and one death.

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In light of the shortage of face marks, Taiwan in late January banned the export of face masks, and has since boosted its weekly production to 11 million.

Chen said the government is aiming to raise that number to 15 million in coming days.