Experts say festive season will bring in new COVID wave with peak after Spring Festival

Experts say festive season will bring in new COVID wave with peak after Spring Festival

2023-01-02

Taiwan reported 16,524 local COVID cases on Monday, a significantly lower figure than previous days. A health expert says the low number was caused by low reporting over the weekend. He says that a fresh COVID wave is soon to sweep Taiwan after the Lunar New Year. Let’s hear from him.

Chiang Kuan-yu
Taipei City Hospital
From Christmas through New Year’s, you get in contact with big crowds. So there will be some infections. That’s no surprise. Arrivals from across the strait, or from other countries, could give rise to a new COVID wave, which could reach a higher point after the Lunar New Year.

Testing upon arrival became mandatory on Sunday for arrivals traveling in from China. The CECC says that of the 524 travelers that landed on Sunday, 146 tested positive for COVID. That’s about 1 in 4. Samples will be sent for genetic sequencing, with results expected as soon as Friday.

中國旅客入境採檢首日陽性率達27.8%

2023-01-02

台灣今天(2號)確診數1萬6524例，相較前幾天確診數連3天下降，但醫師指出這是假象，因為元旦連假加上先前耶誕假期，恐釀新一波疫情，而且會一路延續到春節後。

[[北市聯醫整合醫學科醫師姜冠宇]]
“從耶誕假期一直到跨年，會累積滿多的接觸人潮，所以說會增加一些確診，這個是並不意外。從對岸或是說從其他地方，或者國外回來的朋友，引來一波感染潮，在春節之後會來到比較高峰的時候”

指揮中心針對中國入境旅客加強檢疫，昨起來台必須接受唾液PCR，今天公布元旦入境中國來台旅客共採檢524人，其中378人陰性，陽性146人，陽性率27.8%，等於每4人就有1人確診，預計科學抽樣送病毒定序，結果最快本週五出爐。

Related News

EVA Air ground crew continue protest over poor year-end bonuses

About 40 ground crew workers for Evergreen Airline Services, on Monday took leave to continue their voluntary protest over poor year-end bonuses. The protest started on Sunday, after workers found their 1-month bonus was far below that of other companies in Evergreen Group, such as a 3-month bonus in EVA Airways and a 45-month bonus in Evergreen Marine. The transport ministry says it has communicated with Evergreen Group, urging it to reassess the ways it hands out bonuses across its subsidiaries.

A long line of passengers stretches from EVA Air’s check-in counters at Taoyuan International Airport. Many people have come well ahead of the departure time amid concerns that their fights could be affected by the protest.

Passenger
I heard there could be some delays. But I didn’t know what the actual situation would be like.

Passengers
There’s was bit of a delay. But they informed us of the schedule change well in advance.

One group of travelers had checked in for their flight but were left waiting in the terminal. Their luggage was slow to be loaded on the plane amid a shortage of luggage handlers.

According to Evergreen Airline Services, about 151, or 30% of ground crew employees, took the day off on Sunday. That fell to just 40 on Monday, or about 10%. The lack of labor resulted in delays of one to two hours on Monday, in contrast with three-hour delays on Sunday.

Member of public
It’s frustrating, but I think we should also put ourselves in their shoes.

Transport minister Wang Kwo-tsai has called on Evergreen Group to offer bigger bonuses to ground crew, so that the issue can be resolved soon.

Voice of Wang Kwo-tsai
Transport minister
Today I got in touch with the head of the Civil Aeronautics Administration. We’ve been in contact with EVA Air Chair Steve Lin, saying that he should bring the figure up. They shouldn’t let Evergreen Airline Services staff go without money through the Lunar New Year. I think Evergreen Group should take care of the employees in its subsidiaries. I expressed our point of view, and he understood our position.

To limit impact to passengers, EVA Air has rescheduled flights so that they are not so concentrated at certain times of the day. Ground crew members say the protests will continue until the company finds a solution.

2023-01-02

Foreign media, local analyst say 2023 will challenge tech companies

The new year has just started, but analysts say it will be a tough year ahead for the tech industry. They say TSMC will need to work harder to keep talented engineers in Taiwan, particularly as competition among chip suppliers heats up. Let’s hear what one analyst has to say on the matter.

In its final triumph of 2022, TSMC held the opening ceremony for its new 3nm plant in Tainan. Company chair Mark Liu said the move was part of plans for greater investment in Taiwan, where the company would maintain its lead tech position. However, a Financial Times report published Dec. 30 said TSMC CEO C. C. Wei “cannot afford to relax after a record year.” The report says that during Wei’s four years as CEO, the company broke performance records and stocks soared, but 2023 is set to be a tough year, which “will require bold New Year’s resolutions.”

Chai Huan-hsin
Industry analyst
Geopolitics is still a major challenge for TSMC. The company’s U.S. plant may surpass its Taiwan plants in research – don’t assume that’s impossible. That is something that may happen, and if it does, keeping the advanced manufacturing process in Taiwan will break it.

The Financial Times report suggested that Samsung and Intel will also invest heavily in 2nm chips. TSMC has only just started mass-producing 3nm chips, while Samsung started shipping 3nm chips in July. There is no brand loyalty in the industry, and whoever can make the most-advanced chips will come out on top, the report said. Also, China is actively poaching talent, and the possibility of TSMC losing its talented engineers cannot be ruled out.

Chai Huan-hsin
Industry analyst
TSMC only has 7,500 research and development engineers, and 500 of those were relocated to the U.S. plant. They move 7% of their advanced R&D engineers, and this is only the first phase. As manufacturing moves forward, the pace of relocating engineers will increase.

Hon Hai chair Young Liu on New Year’s sent a letter to Foxconn employees in China telling them to stay united during stormy days. The company’s plant in China’s Zhengzhou has been facing challenges, but annual growth over the past 11 months still reached 13.5%. The company is expecting a challenging 2023, but will make it through if everyone stays focused on the path forward, he said.

Tech companies expect stormy days ahead for 2023, but how well they get through it will be a test of their management.

2023-01-02

Tai Tzu-ying named BWF World Tour’s third biggest earner in 2022

2023-01-02

New Taipei launches new series of ‘Trash Talk’ cartoons on its official garbage bags

Taking out the trash is a special ritual in Taiwan. And now, in New Taipei, it’s even more exciting! The city has launched a new series of “Trash Talk” cartoons on its official plastic bags, which can be used for shopping and throwing away rubbish. They’re also using a renewable material, so the dual-use bags are even more eco-friendly. And you can order garbage bags with personalized designs. Maybe the trash will always be a chore, but for New Taipei denizens, it’s more and more a cultural phenomenon.

A strong black on white contrast. “I dumped my ex.” “I wish I was garbage.” These “Trash Talk” slogans and cartoons have sent the popularity of these garbage bags soaring. The limited-edition “Trash Talk” series is accompanied by other promotional products designed by official agencies, featuring the unique products of different regions and official messages. There’s even a design promoting electronic receipts.

Huang Yu-lun
FTV reporter
New Taipei Environmental Protection Department produces dual-purpose plastic bags, and now it’s time to ring the changes again. This time the bag is made of renewable materials, and you can see how thick and strong it is.

Chiang Pen-chih
New Taipei Environmental Protection Dept.
In late 2013, we actually decided to get creative in New Taipei government, to combine the shopping bags and garbage bags. So we launched the eco-friendly dual-purpose bags, as they’re known, the first in Taiwan. Producing the bags does take some plastic, so we started to think about using renewable materials for the dual-purpose bags.

The bags are evolving, and it looks like there’s plenty of demand for more. Locals are eagerly anticipating a new release of their favourite old designs with the renewable material, and the launch of more droll drawings.

Member of public
They’re really creative! Like, “throw out your worries.”

Member of public
We can use more of these bags with the pictures.

Alongside the limited-edition eco-friendly bags produced by official agencies, the Environmental Protection Department is also allowing companies and organizations to order bags with their own personalized designs. Who said taking out the trash is a chore? Now it’s a cultural event.

2023-01-02

High degree of consensus within DPP to nominate Lai for president: party member

DPP lawmakers say there is a high level of consensus within the party that Vice President Lai Ching-te will be the party’s pick for the 2024 presidential elections. They say that the party should finalize its nomination process as early as possible, to give the candidates more time to prepare a campaign. For now, reports say the DPP will likely be up against two formidable candidates from the Taiwan People’s Party and the KMT: Former Mayor Ko Wen-je and New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih.

Vice President Lai Ching-te deferred to President Tsai Ing-wen when asked about cross-strait affairs. At this point, he is set to take over as party chair. People in the DPP say there is a high degree of consensus that he will run for president in 2024.

Lai Jui-lung
DPP lawmaker
I think the biggest consensus is that Vice President Lai Ching-te will be the DPP’s candidate in the 2024 presidential elections. Everyone recognizes his standing and ability.

Chen Ting-fei
DPP lawmaker
The DPP is almost settled on the matter, so I think we should finalize this as soon as possible.

Chao Tien-lin
DPP lawmaker
I think that the party should pick its candidates for president and lawmakers sooner, so that everyone can get ready to battle.

In the previous presidential election, the DPP had originally planned to finalize its nominees in April. But after a contested by-election between Lai and Tsai for the presidential nomination, Tsai’s candidacy was not finalized until June 19. Party members say that speeding up the timetable would mean that the nomination process would start right after the Lunar New Year.

Chen Chi-mai (Dec. 28)
DPP acting chair
Vice President Lai Ching-te would be a suitable candidate for president. I think there is a high degree of consensus within the party about this. But perhaps other people will have other considerations. Perhaps there will be other candidates emerging.

DPP acting chair Chen Chi-mai says another contender could emerge. But whoever ends up getting the nomination will have a tough campaign ahead. Reports say Taiwan People’s Party chair Ko Wen-je and KMT New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih are likely options for 2024.

Lai Jui-lung
DPP lawmaker
Hou Yu-ih would have to face criticisms of abandoning his city duties to run for president. In any case, being president is very different from being mayor. As the president, you have to deal with a lot of national policies and diplomatic affairs.

The DPP lawmakers say 2024 will be a hard battle for the DPP.

2023-01-02

Taipei by-election candidates stump in final-week push before election

It’s the final six days before the Taipei legislative by-election, and candidates were out in full force Monday. DPP candidate Enoch Wu stumped from a campaign truck, while his KMT rival Wang Hung-wei spoke on stage about her campaign platform. Meanwhile, Wu yesterday told reporters that his position on relations with China is compatible with that of Vice President Lai Ching-te, and that he ultimately seeks to promote regional peace.

With a week to go before the Taipei by-election, DPP candidate Enoch Wu was out canvassing from a campaign truck. DPP Taipei City Councilor Chen E-jun accompanied Wu for part of the day, and fellow councilor Hsu Shu-hua joined him later, as he took to the streets in the northern part of Songshan District.

Before boarding the campaign truck, Wu took the campaign online with a livestream. Meanwhile, his KMT rival Wang Hung-wei held a more solemn event, speaking to supporters from a stage where she was joined by KMT Chair Eric Chu.

Eric Chu
KMT chair
This great mother and councilor is about to take her place in the legislature, where she will be a great mother and legislator.

Wang took the opportunity to speak on her campaign policy, promising to return tax money to residents.

Wang Hung-wei
KMT Taipei by-election candidate
The government has reported a tax surplus, and not just over the past two years, so we propose paying money back to the residents. We are very happy by the response to the issue across party lines.

Enoch Wu
DPP Taipei by-election candidate
I have also called for this in the past. The most effective way to share this money with the public is through cash subsidies. This is also what the public hopes for.

Wang has increasingly had the support of top KMT party members, but Wu appears unfazed by this, saying that top DPP members will join him in the coming days.

Enoch Wu
DPP Taipei by-election candidate
Our acting party chair, and our prospective party chair, are expected to join me this week. They will canvass together with me.

Wu also spoke on his China views, and related them to those of Vice President Lai Ching-te.

Enoch Wu
DPP Taipei by-election candidate
My personal stance is to oppose the Chinese Communist Party and promote the protection of Taiwan. The one currently threatening regional safety and impacting the universal value of democracy is the CCP. The goal of opposing the CCP and seeking to protect Taiwan is to maintain peace. This is not at odds with Vice President’s Lai’s stance of promoting peace and the protection of Taiwan. I simply hope to be more precise in my wording, because it isn’t the Chinese people I oppose, it’s the CCP, which violates democratic values, that I oppose.

Wu said that ultimately his stance, like that of Lai, is to promote peace.

2023-01-02

More than 50 temples to take part in Taitung’s ‘Bombing of Master Handan’

2023-01-02

Wash your bed sheets once a week to avoid dirt and health risks: OECD

2023-01-02

Loquat farmers hard at work pruning buds to help flowers bloom healthily

And now we head to the loquat farms of Chulu in Taitung. It’s loquat flowering season right now, and local expert Yang Chao-hsin is hard at work. Loquat shrubs produce lots of buds – too many for them to sustain. So, part of the farmers’ work is pruning the branches at just the right moment. The pruned buds are used to create a sweet, medicinal tea.

With a deft hand, Yang Chao-hsin picks several buds off this loquat branch, leaving just four buds behind.

Yang Chao-hsin
Loquat farmer
You prune these, and these as well. Normally you leave just about that much.

Nearby this shrub is already flowering and has more blossoms, so more need to be pruned. It’s not necessarily because the flowers are growing wrong. Farmers also need to consider how much nutrient value the branch can absorb.

Yang Chao-hsin
Loquat farmer
If all the flowers bloom, the branch will have at least 30 buds. But the branch can only deliver enough nutrients for eight flowers, at most.

The cold weather has had an impact on the loquat farms here in Taitung’s Chulu. The blooming season is prolonged, but as the weather has gotten colder, the flowers have one by one started to come out.

The farmers thin the flowers out, to eventually grow the best possible fruit. The top third and bottom third of buds are picked off. That concentrates the nutrients available on the remaining flowers, and also makes the flowers bloom at the same time. That way, the size of the loquat fruit is more even, and they’re easier to harvest.

Yang Chao-hsin
Loquat farmer
The quality is better, and the harvesting time is even, so you can just cut them all off at once.

But the buds that are pruned are not thrown away. They are separated, and rinsed clean in net bags, before being dried to create loquat tea, which is said to be good for the lungs.

Yang Chao-hsin
Loquat farmer
It’s written in the “Great Pharmacopoeia,” that loquat is a medicinal plant. The virus in this pandemic mainly targeted our lungs. These loquats are also effective for our lungs.

Loquat has a subtle, sweet fragrance and a delicious herbal flavor. It’s a popular herbal tea. For these farmers, loquat fruit is an important crop. But the pruned buds are also a source of income, a local specialty, and a tradition to hand down to the next generation.

2023-01-02

Unusual scarecrow is pretty in pink: Chiayi fields covered in pink plastic bags

2023-01-02