CECC delays indoor mask mandate announcement

CECC delays indoor mask mandate announcement

2023-02-02

The CECC has halted plans to make an announcement about the easing of Taiwan’s indoor mask mandate, which was originally scheduled for Thursday. Health officials cited three reasons for the postponement: rising occupancy of COVID wards, the need to iron out details across government agencies, and an expected uptick in infections after the holidays. Let’s hear from the CECC head.

Victor Wang
CECC head
We’re still calculating where the peak will be. It seems we are seeing the effects of delayed reporting. We’ll watch the situation a few days to see if the pressure eases off the medical system, and whether case numbers get stable. If certain thresholds are reached, we will announce new mask policies.

Chuang Jen-hsiang
CECC spokesperson
Today we’re reporting 26,793 local infections, 292 imported infections, and 74 deaths. The local infection number is about 41.5% higher than last Thursday.

Though COVID cases bounced back after the Lunar New Year break, week-on-week growth is slowing down. Whereas Monday and Tuesday saw more than double the cases in the previous week, Thursday’s cases were just about 40% higher than last week. CECC head Victor Wang says Taiwan could follow the path of other countries and downgrade COVID to a Category IV communicable disease in May, putting it on par with chickenpox. When that happens, the CECC will be dissolved.

"室內口罩令"鬆綁喊卡疫情最快5月降級

2023-02-02

室內口罩鬆綁措施，原本預計今天(2日)下午宣布，疫情指揮中心卻喊卡，疫情指揮中心表示有三大原因，第一是春節後病床較滿，以及各部會還要溝通細節，第三就是考量年後確診數反彈。

[[疫情指揮中心指揮官王必勝]]
“現在還算是高點當中，看起來是遞延通報的效應，但還是希望多觀察幾天，醫療量能是不是緩解，還有病例數是不是能夠穩定下來，指標如果達成的時候，我們就會宣布口罩的新政策”

[[疫情指揮中心發言人莊人祥]]
“今天(2日)的本土病例是26793例，境外移入292例，死亡個案74例，本土病例的部分，今天跟上週四相比，上升41.5%”

春節後國內疫情反彈，但增幅出現下降趨勢，從週一的1.1倍、週二1.2倍，週四降到剩4成左右。另外，王必勝也證實，台灣可望在5月跟進國際，調降新冠肺炎的傳染病類別到第4類，且降級後，指揮中心可能也將撤除。

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Former US Indo-Pacific commander sits with President Tsai

President Tsai Ing-wen on Thursday received a delegation led by retired U.S. Admiral Philip Davidson at the Presidential Office. Davidson is an outspoken supporter of Taiwan, and during his tenure as head of the U.S.’ Indo-Pacific Command had warned that China could make a move on Taiwan by 2027. During the meeting, the former gave words of praise for Taiwan’s democracy and civil society, calling for more cooperation between the U.S. and Taiwan.

On his fourth day leading a delegation in Taiwan, former U.S. Admiral Philip Davidson sat with President Tsai Ing-wen.

Tsai Ing-wen
President
This delegation led by Mr. Davidson is the NBR’s first to Taiwan since the pandemic. I would like to extend my warmest welcome to you. During his term, Admiral Davidson watched security developments in the Taiwan Strait very closely. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you, for your contributions to the security of the Taiwan Strait.

Philip Davidson
Former US admiral
Our discussions over the past few days have underscored Taiwan’s vibrant democracy and civil society, addressed the range of actions that the PRC takes toward Taiwan, and highlighted areas in which the U.S. and Taiwan can continue to foster and strengthen their relation.

Back in 2021, before retiring as head of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Davidson had warned that China could attack Taiwan in the following six years, by 2027, capturing headlines around the world. Now, he’s taken the opportunity to visit Taiwan to gain an understanding of Taiwan’s response measures.

Philip Davidson
Retired US admiral
I’ve also been able to observe in this trip, the energy of Taipei, the ongoing construction, and the robustness of its industry. The spirit of the Taiwan Armed Forces, and the extraordinary kindness with which the people of Taiwan have greeted us.

Tsai Ing-wen
President
In face of the expansion of authoritarianism, Taiwan must improve its self-defense capabilities in order to maintain national security. With determination and confidence, we can be more capable of defending our country. We are also extremely willing to continue to deepen our cooperation with the U.S. and other likeminded partners.

Tsai reiterated that Taiwan was committed to defending itself, showing Davidson that no matter how much pressure Beijing puts, Taiwan will not succumb.

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Tsai calls for open dialogue with Beijing at gathering of Taiwanese businesspeople

At a Spring Festival gathering in Taipei for Taiwanese businesspeople working in China, President Tsai Ing-wen gave a speech calling for open dialogue with Beijing, saying that the door for communication is wide open. Meanwhile, Taiwanese businesspeople urged for direct flights between China and Taiwan to fully resume.

President Tsai Ing-wen, Mainland Affairs Council Minister Chiu Tai-san, Minister of Economic Affairs Wang Mei-hua, and Straits Exchange Foundation acting chair Rock Hsu raise their glasses high and wish Taiwanese businesspeople a happy new year.

The annual Spring Festival gathering of Taiwanese businesspeople in China, which was suspended for three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, finally resumed this year. In Taipei, 30 tables were made up to seat more than 200 attendees to the event. President Tsai herself also gave a speech, sending a message not just to Taiwanese businesspeople, but also Beijing.

Tsai Ing-wen
President
I would like to emphasize again that maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is the responsibility of both sides of the strait and a shared expectation for all of us. I would like to reiterate that the door of communication is always open wide, and we are willing to start a dialogue with the Beijing authorities in a rational, equal, and mutually respectful manner to find feasible paths that are acceptable to both sides and promote regional peace and stability.

The president’s display of goodwill towards China was made just on the eve of the get-together. This comes at the same time as an announcement by China’s Taiwan Affairs Office that now is the time to resume normal cross-strait flights, and that priority could be given to 16 direct flight routes such as Taiwan to Guangzhou. Taiwanese business leaders attending the event also echoed the call for fully opening cross-strait flights as soon as possible.

Chai So-ling
Association of Taiwanese Investment Enterprises on the Mainland
Taiwanese businesspeople hope that the number of flight destinations in Taiwan can be substantially increased as soon as possible. I emphasize once again that this is probably what the 1.5 million holders of Mainland Travel Permits in China are looking forward to the most.

Chiu Tai-san
Mainland Affairs Council minister
We will write some assessment plans based on the current situation and submit them to the top for all relevant ministries to discuss.

It seems like no coincidence that the pressure from Taiwanese businesspeople toward Tsai comes as China pushes to resume cross-strait flights.

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Spotlight on Taiwanese artist Liu Chih-hung

Today, in our spotlight story, we meet award-winning artist, Liu Chih-hung. After attending an art residency program in the Netherlands, he was inspired to build a series of ceramic-based sound installations and sculptures inspired by serpents. FTV reporter Stephany Yang spoke to Liu to find out more about his work

This is the largest ceramic installation at the exhibition, "Udu and the Tone." Created by Liu, the piece was inspired by a Nigerian percussion instrument, the udu. Liu spent over a year creating this work with a mixture of black clays, sand and gravel. The serpentine sculptures emit sounds from different cultures. Liu said he spent a year researching ceramics and clays and learning about folk instruments and sound resonance in cylindrical structures.

Liu Chih-hung
Artist
It’s a very traditional instrument from Nigeria called Udu. I tried to use the udu to make it different, like using sculpture ways, use ceramics, clay and using fire, and different types of clays and different temperatures of fire so it will have so many different kinds of tones.

There’s also this sculpture, “The Trap,” modeled after traditional fish traps. Traditionally made out of bamboo, Liu recreated his with clay to create his. It is shaped like drums and can be played like an instrument.

Liu Chih-hung
Artist
People usually use it to catch fishes in the river but it is usually made out of bamboo. I just used the shape and also used another kind of material like clay to make the shape of the trap. Also, you can see there is a snake inside the trap and also the bodies coiling together.

Born in Hsinchu, Liu has won several prestigious art awards ver the course of his artistic career. His works have been collected by the Taipei Fine Arts Museum and the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts. His creations span a variety of mediums, including ceramic sculptures, paintings, images, installations, and even short films. During his art residency at the European Ceramic Work Centre in 2021, Liu became inspired to create a series of ceramic sound installations and sculptures that revolve around the theme of serpents. Through his works, he hopes to explore the relationship between sound, cultural symbols and objects.

Liu Chih-hung
Artist
I tried to use the icon, the snake or we call serpent, to make the connection with some ceremony or some ritual in different areas. Because sometimes use songs to say something to other people. I am very curious about it.

Liu is currently participating in an art residency at the Yingge Ceramics Museum. He hopes to perfect his craft and continue to create a wide range of works in different mediums. His works will be on display at the Mind Set Art Center till Feb. 24.

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Heads of six special municipalities speak with new Cabinet

The heads of Taiwan’s six special municipalities on Thursday attended a meeting at the Executive Yuan for the first time in more than three years of COVID. DPP and KMT mayors spoke for two and a half hours, saying that they were glad to have the opportunity to communicate with each other and the central government. Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che says the occasion marked a good start for the Cabinet led by Premier Chen Chien-jen.

New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih and Vice Premier Cheng Wen-tsan chat as they march along with the mayors of the other five special municipalities. One by one, they answered questions from reporters.

Lu Shiow-yen
Taichung mayor
I think Premier Chen’s performance today was more earnest than I had anticipated. He was very patient and paid close attention to our opinions.

Hou Yu-ih
New Taipei mayor
When we came out, I told Vice Premier Cheng Wen-tsan, “You’re the contact person now. We’ll be working a lot together in the future.”

Cheng Wen-tsan
Vice premier
We hope that the central and local governments can work together, across party lines. With plentiful communication, we can solve problems quickly.

The government officials were in high spirits, and even spent time after the meeting having refreshments together. All in all, they chatted for two and a half hours. The meeting was Chen Chien-jen’s first as head of the Executive Yuan, and was intended to be an icebreaker with the heads of Taiwan’s six special municipalities. Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen brought a gift for Chen--an invitation to watch the World Baseball Classic starting next month.

Lu Shiow-yen
Taichung mayor
Premier Chen was very happy to receive my invite. I hope he comes.

Chiang Wan-an
Taipei mayor
We are really looking forward to the central government making good on its promises regarding the monthly transport pass for the Greater Taipei area. I hope they can integrate the means of transport operated by the central government and provide the financial support needed. I’m very thankful for the positive response from the premier and the different ministers.

Chen Chi-mai
Kaohsiung mayor
I think having a structured communication channel can be very beneficial to promoting national infrastructure projects and the development of local industries.

Huang Wei-che
Tainan mayor
Over the past more than three years of COVID, we haven’t really had the chance to come to the Executive Yuan for talks. This is a fantastic first step.

Local leaders from both KMT and DPP seemed optimistic about the new Cabinet led by Chen, praising his attempts to communicate with all parties.

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