Virus Outbreak: Online mask purchases to commence tomorrow
Virus Outbreak: Online mask purchases to commence tomorrowBy Lee I-chia / Staff reporterOrders for online mask purchases can be placed starting tomorrow, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said yesterday, one day after it announced it was testing an online system for buying masks. Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung, who heads the Central Epidemic Command Center, unveils the government’s new mask policy at a news conference in Taipei yesterday. Each mask costs NT$5 and a handling fee of NT$7 would be charged per order, he said. “People do not have to worry about having to ‘snap up’ masks as if they are buying tickets,” Chen said. The real-name mask purchasing system would be reviewed weekly and modified if necessary to meet the public’s needs, Wang said.
Source:Taipei Times
March 10, 2020 15:56 UTC
Cloud-seeding, cold front add to reservoir levels
Cloud-seeding, cold front add to reservoir levelsBy Shelley Shan / Staff reporterSpring rain brought by a cold front that arrived on Monday night, aided by cloud-seeding operations, could add more than 16.6 million tonnes of rainwater to the reservoirs in northern and central Taiwan, the Water Resources Agency said yesterday. The front’s arrival prompted it to begin cloud-seeding operations at 9:40pm on Monday — over Shihmen Reservoir (石門水庫) in Taoyuan, Second Baoshan Reservoir (寶二水庫) in Hsinchu County, Yongheshan Reservoir (永和山水庫), Minde Reservoir (明德水庫) and Liyutan Reservoir (鯉魚潭水庫) in Miaoli County — and again at 1:40am yesterday, the agency said. The rain could expand to southern Taiwan, but with reduced intensity before more cold air arrives, he said. Starting today, the nation would be under the influence of the northeast monsoon, the bureau said. Tomorrow’s temperatures are to rebound as the northeast monsoon weakens and rain eases, the bureau said.
Source:Taipei Times
March 10, 2020 15:56 UTC
Virus Outbreak: Wash hands, do not rub eyes to avoid COVID-19: doctor
Virus Outbreak: Wash hands, do not rub eyes to avoid COVID-19: doctorEXPOSED TISSUE: The mucous membranes in the eyes could be an entry point for pathogens that can cause diseases, such as COVID-19 and conjunctivitisBy Jennifer Huang and Dennis Xie / Staff reporter, with staff writerWhile masks can protect the mouth and nose against COVID-19 infection, they leave the eyes exposed, a doctor said on Sunday, urging people to frequently wash their hands and avoid rubbing their eyes. The mucous membranes in the eyes could be an entry point for germs or the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, China Medical University Hsinchu Hospital ophthalmology division head Chen Ying-shan (陳瑩山) said. A boy opens his eyes wide in Taipei in an undated photograph. Pathogens in the discharge could easily spread to the eyelashes and other areas of the face as well as glasses, Chen said. Washing hands frequently is key to preventing transferring pathogens from the eyes to other surfaces, or vice versa, he said.
Source:Taipei Times
March 10, 2020 15:56 UTC
Taipei photography society wins top prize at World Cup
Taipei photography society wins top prize at World CupBy Chen Yu-hsun and Dennis Xie / Staff reporter, with staff writerThe Photographic Society of Taipei has won first place in last year’s World Cup for Clubs held by the International Federation of Photographic Art, making Taiwan the first Asian nation to win the championship since its inception in 2001. In 2018, the society won third place, then the highest place won by an Asian nation, and this year’s victory was a new record, he said. The Photographic Society of Taipei’s winning photographs are seen in this screen grab taken from its official site on Sunday. Photo: chen Yu-hsun, Taipei TimesTaiwan’s team — 20 photographers from the society, including Chang Ming-chih (張明芝), Chen Te-yun (陳德芸) and Chi Kuo-chin (齊國秦) — was among 207 photography groups from 48 nations at the event, Chiang said. Society member Yang Ya-ting (楊雅婷) won an individual silver medal, while Chen Feng-lin (陳豐麟) earned an honorable mention, he said.
Source:Taipei Times
March 10, 2020 15:56 UTC
Transparency crucial to AI development: Tang
Transparency crucial to AI development: TangOPEN INNOVATION: AI is ‘assistive intelligence’ to create tools that should solve issues in industry, society and the environment, Minister Without Portfolio Audrey Tang saidBy Lin Chia-nan / Staff reporterThe development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology should be transparent and establish accountability, so as to better society instead of dividing it, Minister Without Portfolio Audrey Tang (唐鳳) said yesterday. From left, Taiwan AI Labs founder Ethan Tu, Minister Without Portfolio Audrey Tang and Minister of Science and Technology Chen Liang-gee and others yesterday attend a news conference at the Ministry of Science and Technology in Taipei. Privacy protection and accountability are two essential issues for AI development, while transparency is key to fostering accountability with AI so that it makes a society better, not more divided, she said. After Tu founded Taiwan AI Labs in April 2017, the ministry established AI innovative research centers at National Taiwan University, National Cheng Kung University, National Tsing Hua University and National Chiao Tung University, he said. While AI is being used in several areas, Taiwan is lagging behind in the development of self-driving technology, Chen said.
Source:Taipei Times
March 10, 2020 15:56 UTC
Virus Outbreak: WHO should declare pandemic: experts
Virus Outbreak: WHO should declare pandemic: expertsIF THAT’S NOT A PANDEMIC: COVID-19 might be a ‘once-in-a-century’ pathogen, so the nation should prepare assuming that it would turn out so, a dean at NTU saidBy Lee I-chia / Staff reporterThe WHO should declare the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic, health experts at National Taiwan University’s (NTU) College of Public Health said yesterday, adding that the government should bolster disease prevention measures at long-term care centers. “The NTU College of Public Health wants to represent the professional point of view and urge the WHO to announce the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic,” Chan said. In addition, clusters of confirmed cases have been reported in long-term care centers in the US and Australia, implying that elderly people are a high-risk group, Chen said. The government should offer bonuses for long-term care center personnel and postpone annual assessments of care facilities so that they can focus on disease prevention, she said. The government, academics and industry should cooperate to enhance disease prevention in long-term care facilities, she said.
Source:Taipei Times
March 09, 2020 16:01 UTC
Political Developments: Chiang promises reforms at swearing-in ceremony
Political Developments: Chiang promises reforms at swearing-in ceremonyBy Sherry Hsiao / Staff reporterChinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) pledged urgent reforms as he was sworn in as the party’s new chairman yesterday. Former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) secretary-general Hsu Shui-teh, left, holds up a certificate with Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Johnny Chiang at Chiang’s inauguration at KMT headquarters in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei TimesChiang defeated his sole opponent, former Taipei mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌), by taking nearly 69 percent of the vote. Wu Poh-hsiung said that he “dare not say ‘congratulations’” to Chiang, given the task that lies ahead. Taiwan should have “close relations” with the US, “peaceful relations” with China and “friendly relations” with Japan, he said.
Source:Taipei Times
March 09, 2020 16:01 UTC
Virus Outbreak: Foreign missions seeking Taiwan’s advice: minister
Virus Outbreak: Foreign missions seeking Taiwan’s advice: ministerGYMNASIUM SNUB: Separately, a Taiwanese man said that a gymnasium in Thailand canceled his membership, which he said meant that his privacy had been violatedBy Lu Yi-hsuan / Staff reporterMinister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) yesterday said he has received several calls from foreign missions in Taiwan to learn from the nation’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak. He has also received telephone calls from many of them who say that Taiwan’s response has been successful and hope their governments would learn from Taiwan’s experience, Wu said. Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu speaks at a meeting of the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee in Taipei yesterday. The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Thailand yesterday said it is assisting the man. The situation was an isolated case and the government regrets that a Taiwanese was treated this way, Wu said.
Source:Taipei Times
March 09, 2020 16:01 UTC
Firms express optimism on COVID-19 reagent deal
Firms express optimism on COVID-19 reagent dealBy Kao Shih-ching / Staff reporterTaiwan Advance Bio-Pharmaceutical Inc (TABP, 台灣尖端先進生技醫藥) and General Biologicals Corp (GBC, 普生股份) yesterday separately said that they have a good chance of being chosen to produce a rapid screening reagent for COVID-19. Yesterday’s announcement came after the institute on Sunday announced that it has synthesized a monoclonal antibody that can quickly identify the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. “Academia Sinica said in the meeting that it has certain criteria to select qualified manufacturers for the test kits. It seems that we have a chance and we will keep in close contact with the institute,” TABP deputy director Chang Chih-feng (張志鋒) told the Taipei Times by telephone. TABP, which focuses on test kits for antibiotics and pesticide residue in food, produces about 12,000 kits per week at its factory in New Taipei City, Chang said.
Source:Taipei Times
March 09, 2020 16:01 UTC
Virus Outbreak: Lawmakers call for tax breaks for firms that support sports
Virus Outbreak: Lawmakers call for tax breaks for firms that support sportsBy Huang Hsin-po / Staff reporterLawmakers have tendered proposals calling for income tax breaks to be offered to companies that make an endowment to sports bodies or competitions. The proposal would give sports authorities the right to create a dedicated account to receive endowments from firms in the private sector, which would be eligible for an income tax deduction. In Chao’s draft, profit-seeking enterprises can give endowments to government-designated professional or amateur sports bodies and have income tax deductions of no more than NT$25 million (US$829,738). In Chang and Huang’s draft, endowments are divided into those for “key sports categories” and “approved sports categories,” and companies giving endowments to the former are exempt from the NT$25 million tax deduction ceiling. Professional sports bodies may only receive endowments within 10 years of the amendment’s ratification, while key and amateur sports bodies would be restricted to within five years of the amendment’s ratification, they state.
Source:Taipei Times
March 09, 2020 15:56 UTC
Judge rules law does not cover e-cigarettes
Judge rules law does not cover e-cigarettesBy Wang Ting-chuan and William Hetherington / Staff reporter, with staff writerA New Taipei City man who challenged a fine he received for importing e-cigarettes won the suit, after a district court ruled that the products fell outside of the scope of current tobacco laws. Enforcement of such products in the absence of relevant laws affects free trade and property rights, the judge said. The Health Promotion Administration’s classification of e-cigarette devices as tobacco products was its own expansion of the scope of tobacco laws, which do not cover these devices, the judge said. Meanwhile, the New Taipei City Government said that it advocated including “complete e-cigarette devices, as well as all e-cigarette device components” in the act. The judge said that the size, weight, shape and color of the devices were all distinguishable from cigars or cigarettes.
Source:Taipei Times
March 09, 2020 15:56 UTC
Political Developments: Petition to recall Han sent to Kaohsiung commission
Political Developments: Petition to recall Han sent to Kaohsiung commissionBy Wang Jung-hsiang, Ko Yu-hao and William Hetherington / Staff reporters, with staff writerA petition to recall Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) was delivered to the Kaohsiung City Election Commission after reaching 400,000 signatures, the petition’s lead organizer said yesterday. Organizers of a petition to recall Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-yu link arms after delivering 400,000 signatures to the Kaohsiung City Election Commission yesterday. The groups yesterday met at the Kaohsiung City Government Fengshan Administration Center, and went to the election commission to deliver the signatures, Chen said. The city’s election commission is supervised by the Central Election Commission, Kaohsiung Information Bureau Director-General Cheng Chao-hsin (鄭照新) said. The Kaohsiung City Government would respect the Kaohsiung Election Commission’s authority in handling a recall, and would not interfere in the process, he said.
Source:Taipei Times
March 09, 2020 15:56 UTC
Virus outbreak: Academia Sinica rejects China’s virus reagent claim
Virus outbreak: Academia Sinica rejects China’s virus reagent claimBy Wu Hsin-tien and Dennis Xie / Staff reporter, with staff writerAcademia Sinica yesterday denied a claim by the Chinese media that China deserved credit for the institute’s development of a rapid screening reagent for COVID-19. A researcher at Academia Sinica in Taipei yesterday holds up rapid screening reagents for, from left, COVID-19, SARS and MERS. “As ‘Sinica’ means ‘Chinese’ in Latin, the organization should consider altering its name to avoid possible confusion,” DPP Legislator Fan Yun (范雲) said. Foreign academics often ask why the government does not change “Sinica” into “Taiwanica,” she said. She asked the institute, which has used Academia Sinica as its English name since 1928, to submit a report on the issue within three months.
Source:Taipei Times
March 09, 2020 15:56 UTC
Virus follows China’s expansionism
However, there is an important fact that has escaped the attention of most observers: The route of the virus’ spread corresponds with China’s geopolitical interests around the globe. Similar to Taiwan, Japan and South Korea possess advanced healthcare systems capable of providing a high standard of medical care. However, in the global battle to combat the virus, the Japanese government’s response sticks out like a sore thumb. From the get-go, the Abe administration responded to the unfolding epidemic as if it were nothing more than a winter flu virus. All these investments necessitate a large number of Chinese workers shuttling back and forth between the two countries and they have brought the virus with them.
Source:Taipei Times
March 09, 2020 15:56 UTC
Virus Outbreak: Mask production ramping up with new equipment
Virus Outbreak: Mask production ramping up with new equipmentStaff writer, with CNATaiwan is ramping up production of surgical masks using newly acquired equipment with a goal of 10 million per day by next week as domestic demand surges amid the COVID-19 epidemic, Minister of Economic Affairs Shen Jong-chin (沈榮津) said yesterday. With delivery of the machines, 60 new production lines have been opened at manufacturing plants across Taiwan, although some of the equipment still needs fine tuning, Shen said. The company is one of several contracted by the government to help ramp up mask production. The factory has four machines churning out roughly 400,000 masks per day, Yi Ting said. Its daily output is expected to rise to 600,000 when it adds two more machines to its production lines, the company said.
Source:Taipei Times
March 09, 2020 15:56 UTC