CECC says upcoming COVID wave won’t be as big as wave in September-October

CECC says upcoming COVID wave won’t be as big as wave in September-October

2022-12-12

Taiwan reported 10,824 local COVID cases on Monday, a rise of 6% from last week, and the fourth day in a row with rising numbers. The CECC says factors contributing to the uptick include waning immunity in society, and the easing of COVID measures. Health officials on Monday responded to reports that Taiwan may see another COVID wave in January. They said that if a new wave does come, it won’t be as big as the one from September to October this year. Let’s hear from the CECC.

Victor Wang
CECC
With the easing of COVID restrictions, reaching zero COVID infections is impossible. There will still be a small amount of spread in the community. Secondly, immunity to COVID wanes with time. No matter if its protection is induced by vaccines or from an infection. As time passes, that protection wears off. If there is another wave, I think it won’t be as big as the second one we had this year, the peak would be about half as high.

Chiang Kuan-yu
Taipei City Hospital
The next wave will likely be driven by the XBB subvariant, and it will happen around Jan. 6. That’s based on a model from Singapore on the interval between their BA.5 wave and their XBB wave.

Earlier this month, the CECC lifted Taiwan’s outdoor mask mandate. Still, officials say they recommend wearing face masks at crowded events, such as Christmas or New Year’s parties.

明年1月迎第3波疫情? CDC:會低於前2波高點

2022-12-12

今天新增本土10824例，較上週同期增加6%，這已經是連續第4天增加，指揮中心認為與防疫措施相對寬鬆、免疫力隨時間消退2個原因有關。有醫師預估，明年1月初將迎來第三波疫情高峰，指揮官王必勝認為，如果有新一波疫情也不會比第二波高。

[[指揮中心指揮官王必勝]]
“寬鬆的防疫政策的話，不可能達到這個清零的目的，那還是會有這個，社區低度的感染，第二是說我想對於新冠肺炎的免疫力，不論是接種疫苗獲得的保護力或自然感染，那也是會隨著時間，我們逐漸會衰減。如果是有下一波疫情的話，我想我們的估計它不會比第二波的疫情高，我想可能也是大概在，第二波疫情的一半左右”

[[北市聯醫整合醫學科醫師姜冠宇]]
“台灣下一波的變異株疫情，也就是XBB的疫情要起來，大概是在1/6的時候，那這個其實是用新加坡，他們發生BA.5到XBB的時間，間隔把它套用在台灣上面”

雖然戶外已經不用戴口罩，但年末聖誕節、跨年活動齊發，指揮中心也提醒大家，參加相關活動最好全程配戴口罩，盡量不要飲食比較安全。

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Government draws up plans to help firms affected by China’s import suspensions

The government is launching response measures, as China continues to suspend more and more Taiwanese products from import. So far, China’s move has affected 2,409 Taiwanese companies, of which 1,800 say they won’t try to apply for import permits again. Beijing claims the companies had incorrectly filled in the relevant application forms required to comply with a new set of customs registration rules it launched earlier this year.

China has continued to suspend imports of some Taiwanese agricultural products. Critics say Taiwan’s central government had not prepared well enough for an expected shift in China’s customs rules. On Sunday, Deputy health minister Victor Wang said that Beijing not responding to Taiwan’s attempts to discuss the matter.

Victor Wang (Dec. 11)
Deputy health minister
We’ve been singled out, in comparison with how other countries are being treated.

Originally, China had granted import permits to more than 3,000 Taiwanese products. But with the start of China’s new customs registration rules, imports for more than 2,400 types of products were suspended. From Dec. 8 to Dec. 10 alone, the number of products allowed for import was further slashed from 1,006 to just 792. Taiwan’s Food and Drug Administration says China rejected the registration applications on the grounds that the documents and production licenses submitted did not meet its specifications. A lawmaker says China is using trade to put pressure on Taiwan.

Wu Ping-jui
DPP lawmaker
It’s frustrating. China is the one who’s doing bad things, and not respecting World Trade Organization rules. But in the end, people in Taiwan just blame the government. Under these circumstances, Taiwan’s government has to work hard and do more.

Among the 2,409 companies affected, about 1,800 say they won’t try to resubmit the documentation, saying they don’t want to put their trust in China again. The central government is launching policies to market the products in Japan and Southeast Asia.

Yen Hui-hsin
Chung-hua Institution for Economic Research
Trade between Taiwan and China has fallen to just 30% of what it used to be. It’s a very clear drop. We have experience in selling seafood products in other countries. Those attempts were successful, because China is not actually Taiwan’s biggest export market for seafood. That title is actually Japan’s.

The remaining companies will be assisted by three government agencies. The Council of Agriculture will advise businesses on processing their products in Southeast Asia, sell them domestically, as well as tapping into new markets. The Ministry of Economic Affairs will assist processing firms with matters such as loans, and utilizing the internet to sell products. The Ministry of Finance, which governs alcohol sales, will try to help companies take part in international competitions, as well as hold exhibitions in Taiwan to boost sales and competitiveness.

Yen Hui-hsin
Chung-hua Institution for Economic Research
China often uses these so-called “administrative barriers” to disturb trade. The key to respond is to spread the markets of Taiwan’s exports, to sell the products in other markets. I think Taiwan has already seen some success in that. The government hopes to set up an inter-ministerial management mechanism to export and process seafood products.

Taiwan has been at the end of Chinese import bans for many years now. The government will respond as it has in previous occasions, opening up new markets both abroad and in Taiwan, as well as improving the quality of the products. That way, firms won’t be so reliant on China, and find a way for their own in other places.

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Subsidies up to NT$100,000 for the removal of authoritarian relics

Lawmakers on Monday questioned members of the Executive Yuan on a new subsidy program to remove authoritarian symbols in Taiwan. The Ministry of the Interior on Nov. 28 finalized a budget offering up to NT$100,000 for the removal of each statue of former leaders Chiang Kai-shek or Chiang Ching-kuo. It also covers things such as name changes to institutions that carry authoritarian connotations.

Statues of Chiang Kai-shek across Taiwan continue dotting the island. Back in November, the Ministry of the Interior earmarked a budget offering subsidies to local government institutions and public schools to remove authoritarian symbols. That includes up to NT$100,000 for the removal of statues of former leaders Chiang Kai-shek and Chiang Ching-kuo.

Wang Mei-hui
DPP lawmaker
A subsidy of NT$100,000, what do you think?

Lo Ping-cheng
Executive Yuan spokesperson
As you’ve mentioned, there are authoritarian symbols in schools to take care of. It’s only been half a year since the interior ministry assumed responsibility of this matter, so whether by providing subsidies or moving the statues elsewhere, all that will be undertaken at the interior ministry’s discretion.

The subsidies are available to local governments, schools and NGOs for things such as removing authoritarian relics or undergoing a name change. Currently, there are more than 1,000 statues of Chiang Kai-shek and Chiang Ching-kuo in the country, and the removal of each statue is eligible for a subsidy of up to NT$100,000. The subsidy program had been enacted Nov. 28, but not all members of the public think the statues should be removed.

Member of public
Young people today rather dislike him, so I think it’s better to remove his statues.

Member of public
They’re like antiquities, no need for removal.

Cheng Yun-peng
DPP lawmaker
The key to successfully implementing transitional justice in Taiwan is not money. Rather, it’s public opinion, whether it supports and accepts transitional justice or not. So I think this has to be done through education. Once everyone has a good understanding of democracy and Taiwan’s history with authoritarianism, then the statues celebrating autocracy will gradually disappear from our lives.

Hsu Chih-chieh
DPP lawmaker
Lowering the costs to institutions should be helpful in promoting the removal of authoritarian symbols. I hope our education can emphasize anti-authoritarianism, so that it takes root in the hearts of people. Only that can prevent an authoritarian regime from taking over again.

Taiwan’s government continues working to find ways to deal with its autocratic past and implement transitional justice.

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Chiang Wan-an appoints former New Taipei, Kaohsiung deputy mayor Taipei deputy mayor

The office of Taipei Mayor-elect Chiang Wan-an on Monday announced some of the officials that will lead the city with him. One of his deputy mayors will be Lee Shu-chuan, who has previously served as deputy mayor in New Taipei and Kaohsiung. Meanwhile, the city’s secretariat will be filled with people who previously worked in New Taipei for Hou Yu-ih’s administration. Reports say the other deputy mayor position could be filled in by lawmaker Lin Yi-hua, who declined to comment on the matter.

Taipei Mayor-elect Chiang Wan-an on Sunday joined a campaign event for the KMT’s legislative by-election candidate Wang Hung-wei. On Monday, he finally released an announcement on who will lead the capital with him.

One of the deputy mayors will be Lee Shu-chuan , who has previously been deputy mayor for Eric Chu in New Taipei and Han Kuo-yu in Kaohsiung. The position of secretary-general will be taken over by Lee Tai-hsing, who was previously head of New Taipei’s Finance Department under Hou Yu-ih.

Hou Yu-ih
New Taipei mayor
New Taipei would like to wholeheartedly thank all these talented individuals in the country who have worked hard for New Taipei. Everyone has worked together for this land. After all, we are all part of this country. So if all these talented people can work in different areas, that will only be for the benefit of our country. Through unity, we can let all these skilful people do what they can do.

Cheng Shih-wei
Chiang Wan-an’s spokesperson
During campaigning, Mayor Chiang Wan-an spoke with Mayor Hou about bringing close cooperation between the two cities in the future.

The Department of Transportation will be headed by Liu Ming-hung, who previously worked in the transport ministry. Wu Sheng-chung will once again lead the Department of Environmental Protection. The Department of Urban Development will be headed by Wang Yu-fen, who is currently a board member in the National Housing and Urban Regeneration Center.

Former Taipei City Councilor Chen Yung-te will take over as head of the Department of Civil Affairs. Taoyuan Metro CEO Cheng Te-fa will lead the Department of Rapid Transit Systems. And the Public Works Department and the Department of Land Administration will be headed by Huang I-ping and Chen Hsin-liang.

This first announcement of officials focuses mainly on talents in infrastructure and engineering , which Chiang has said will be a top priority in his administration.

Cheng Shih-wei
Chiang Wan-an’s spokesperson
Urban renewal is an important part of Mayor Chiang Wan-an’s policy plans.

Reports say Taipei’s other deputy mayor could be lawmaker Lin Yi-hua. Should she take on the role before Feb. 1, that would trigger another by-election to fill in her seat in the Legislative Yuan. If she waits until Feb. 1 or after to take over, no by-election will be held, as less than 1 year would’ve remained in her term, which expires on Jan. 31, 2024.

Lin declined to comment on the matter, saying that the mayor was looking everywhere to recruit officials.

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