Influenza, COVID cases on the rise

Influenza, COVID cases on the rise

2024-06-13

Influenza is on the rise. According to the latest weekly statistics, 79,000 people visited outpatient or emergency care providers for flu-like symptoms. Among them were 39 severe cases and six deaths, including an 8-year-old girl who died just three days after hospitalization. Meanwhile, COVID-19 is also surging. Last week, 328 new cases were reported to the Taiwan CDC, 25% more than the week before. There were also 20 new deaths from COVID complications.

Liu Pang-mai
Pediatrician
Even people who had never gotten infected before, the so-called Chosen Ones, are coming down with it. Over the Dragon Boat Festival long weekend, many people traveled internationally or domestically. And many of them were diagnosed after returning from their travels.

Chen Shih-kai
Executive Yuan spokesperson
We have 2.917 million vaccine doses in stock. At present, that’s enough to vaccinate everyone who needs it. We urge the public to be proactive about vaccination. Once a certain amount of the vaccines is administered, we’ll import more.

The ongoing COVID wave is expected to peak around August or September. The Taiwan CDC advises the use of home screening kits if you have symptoms like a fever, cough, runny nose, or sore throat. Results should be reported to health care providers. Everyone aged six months and older is urged to get the latest XBB COVID vaccine.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

流感、新冠肺炎雙雙升溫最新類流感就診數達7.9萬人

2024-06-13

流感燒不停，最新類流感就診人數，高達7.9萬人，光是重症就有39例，6例死亡，南部一名8歲女童，流感併發腦炎、肺炎和心肌炎，住院3天就死亡。不只流感，疾管署示警，新冠疫情再度進入流行期。光上週就新增328例，較前一週上升25%，並且新增20例死亡。

[[小兒科醫師柳雱邁]]
“有一些是過去從來沒有感染過的，一些所謂的天選之人，但在這一波也不幸中箭落馬，端午節的連假，所以很多人有出國，或者是國內旅遊的計畫，但有很多人是在國旅，或者是國外回來之後，就不幸確診”

[[行政院發言人陳世凱]]
“疫苗的庫存量是291.7萬劑，所以目前是足夠給需要施打的國人來施打，那我們也呼籲國人，能夠踴躍來施打，那當施打到一定程度的時候，我們會繼續來進口”

新冠疫情，恐怕要到8月、9月達到高峰後才趨緩，疾管署提醒，如出現發燒或咳嗽、流鼻涕、喉嚨痛等疑似症狀，先使用新冠家用快篩試劑，並於就醫時告知快篩結果。此外，接種XBB疫苗是能減少感染後重症或死亡風險最有效的方法，提醒滿6個月以上民眾儘速接種。

更多新聞內容，請鎖定：
民視台灣台（152頻道）週日至週五晚上9:30
民視新聞台（53頻道）週二至週六凌晨1:00

Related News

Lawmakers clash over Cabinet’s ‘reconsideration’ motion

2024-06-13

Lai meets Trump’s top adviser on Asia Matt Pottinger

2024-06-13

Shanghai delegation meets Taipei mayor ahead of twin cities forum

The annual Taipei-Shanghai City Forum will be hosted this summer in Taipei. To hammer out the details, Shanghai has sent a delegation led by its Taiwan Affairs Office director, Zhong Xiaomin. She and Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an spoke for half an hour behind closed doors on Thursday.

Shanghai’s Taiwan Affairs Office Director Zhong Xiaomin makes her way through Taipei City Hall. City mayor Chiang Wan-an was waiting in a conference room for a closed-door discussion. Details were disclosed later by a spokesperson.

Yin Wei
Taipei City government spokesperson
The atmosphere was very harmonious. The mayor first expressed his gratitude to the Shanghai delegation for hosting last year’s forum. This year is about continuing with the foundation we established last year. A good relationship between our two cities can only benefit the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.

The 2024 twin cities forum will be held in Taipei. Ahead of the event, Shanghai sent its top Taiwan affairs official to meet the mayor. Her presence has stoked rumors that Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng himself intends to join this year’s forum.

Zhong was all smiles when facing Taiwan media. The day before, she’d flown in on the same flight as Chinese actor Hu Ge, who was visiting to attend a youth forum. Media asked if the shared flight was a coincidence or an attempt to downplay the political visit.

Yin Wei
Taipei City government spokesperson
We are responsible only for the Shanghai delegation, that is to say, only the people from the Taiwan Affairs Office. In the application that we filed, there was no mention of Hu Ge.

The actor’s whirlwind visit was reportedly arranged by Cheng Wen-tsan, head of Taiwan’s Straits Exchange Foundation. But the claim was later firmly denied. Amid China’s ongoing harassment of Taiwan, fears and suspicions are running rampant. A councilor has urged Taipei’s mayor to uphold national dignity during the twin cities forum.

Lin Yen-feng
Taipei City councilor (DPP)
All arrangements must put the interests of Taipei’s people first. They must not be made under the table. They must uphold equality and dignity. No side should be allowed to take advantage of the other. Chiang Wan-an must uphold these principles.

The Shanghai delegation will conclude its four-day tour on Saturday. With tensions high across the strait, the visit will continue to be closely watched.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2024-06-13

A sneak peek inside the rest space of an Emirates plane

Have you ever wondered how flight attendants manage on long-haul flights? Crew members take it in turns to go on shifts on long flights. Now, perhaps the first time, we have a sneak peek inside the rest space of an Emirates plane. Big carriers like Emirates provide luxurious rest spaces for their crews, and today we have a guided tour of one such space. Normally these rest spaces are located above the main cabin, and include bunks where crew members can sleep.

Open the door and step up the stairs into a narrow space where there are eight bunks, televisions and air conditioning. This is the crew rest space.

Chen Jui-chiu
Flight attendant classroom manager
The wealthier carriers, like Emirates, adopt the strategy of having better equipment when the plane is first made. For example, as we can see in the video, some crew rest spaces have televisions and even a solo space for each person.

An airplane will have two rest spaces, one for pilots and another for crew.

Chen Jui-chiu
Flight attendant classroom manager
Usually the rest space is in the rear of the plane. For example, we see that sometimes it’s by the kitchen or facing the kitchen. There’s a little trapdoor, which is usually not opened by normal travelers. The position on a Boeing 747 is usually next to the washrooms, so it’s more easily opened.

The rest space is well hidden to allow the crew to rest properly. It’s often above the main cabin, and the door might be mistaken for a toilet or a storeroom. But in fact it’s leading to the crew’s hideaway.

Chen Jui-chiu
Flight attendant classroom manager
Most of the airplanes in use in Taiwan were manufactured quite some time ago. So normally they don’t have such high-end facilities as this.

This might be the first time viewers have seen into this secret but vital part of a plane. Airplane crews remind viewers that these spaces are secret for a good reason – next time you’re on a flight, don’t go barging in, or the whole plane will suffer!

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2024-06-13

TSMC goes ex-dividend, Morris Chang pockets NT$437 million

Taiwan chipmaker TSMC went ex-dividend on Thursday, dropping NT$3.5 per share but recovering almost instantly. The stock briefly touched NT$935, before closing up 1.49% at NT$919. Former company CEO Morris Chang is expected to receive NT$437 million in dividends, if he still holds all the shares he owned upon retirement.

According to Forbes magazine, TSMC founder Morris Chang is now worth over US$3.3 billion. These days, he’s riding high on TSMC dividends.

On Wednesday, TSMC’s American depositary receipts surged by 4%, closing at US$172.98. The stock went ex-dividend on the Taiex on Thursday, paying out NT$3.5 per share to open at NT$923. But it recovered almost instantly, hitting a record NT$935 at its peak before closing at NT$919, up 1.43%. Its market value now stands at NT$23.83 trillion.

Winson Wang
Market analyst
TSMC’s stock price is now above NT$900, so even the slightest rise will recover the dividend. What’s more, the current market situation is very favorable for TSMC. Not only is Wall Street going strong, TSMC’s own fundamentals are excellent.

When Chang retired as TSMC chair in June 2018, he owned 125,000 shares. If he had maintained his holdings, he pocketed NT$437 million in dividends on Thursday. Former TSMC chair Mark Liu, with his 12,913 shares, earned NT$45.19 million. Company CEO C.C. Wei, with 6,392 shares, received NT$22.37 million. The Executive Yuan’s National Development Fund, a major institutional shareholder, received NT$5.78 billion.

Winson Wang
Market analyst
Taiwan’s EPS could challenge NT$50 next year. Assuming a price to earnings ratio of 20, TSMC’s stock price could reach NT$1,000.

Amid the AI frenzy, TSMC has emerged as one of the world’s most valuable companies, beating out rivals Samsung and Intel. Its 3 nanometer process is booked until 2026 by clients including Apple, Qualcomm, Nvidia, and AMD. Experts say it’s only a matter of time before TSMC hits NT$1,000.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2024-06-13

Hsieh Su-wei reveals Paris doubles partner

2024-06-13

International Day of Yoga celebrated by India’s de facto embassy in Taiwan

June 21 is International Day of Yoga. A large event to celebrate the practice of yoga is held annually by India’s de facto embassy in Taiwan, the India Taipei Association. This year the event was held at Taoyuan Sunlight Arena, with collaboration from Taoyuan City government. India’s de facto ambassador was on hand to speak about the significance of yoga, not only as a practice of spiritual and physical health, but also as a common point of interest for many Taiwanese and Indian people.

Traditional Indian music fills the air as a performer completes a sacred dance to open International Day of Yoga celebrations.

Participants close their eyes and then sit in the lotus position, following a teacher’s guidance. Every June, the India Taipei Association holds a large yoga gathering attracting lots of enthusiasts to celebrate the day.

Ms. Huang
Member of public
I’ve been practicing yoga for 21 years. I used to get insomnia, but since I started yoga, the quality of my sleep improved a lot. I used to feel depressed and anxious but since I started yoga, my moods are much calmer.

Ms. Tsai
Member of public
Yoga is about uniting body, mind and spirit. In today’s society, especially, things are moving so quickly, and changing so intensely, so in an era like this, yoga is a great way to cultivate the body and mind.

June 21 is International Day of Yoga. It was first suggested to the U.N. by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and supported by 175 U.N. member states. Yoga is also listed by UNESCO as an “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.”

Manharsinh Laxmanbhai Yadav
India Taipei Association head
So I’m very happy to host this yoga event here, and I do understand a lot of Taiwanese people practice yoga. Most of the people want to become better. I see a lot of Taiwanese people trying their best to develop their personal growth, and I think that’s an endeavor that many Indian people also do. So I’m very happy to do this here so that Taiwanese people and Indian people can practice yoga together.

Yoga is not just another form of physical exercise. It’s an important part of Indian philosophy, and a practice of bringing together body and mind that many people find useful for their overall wellbeing. It’s also a bridge between Taiwan and Indian culture.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2024-06-13

Mandarin student turned Italian teacher makes a home in Taiwan

Giovanni Patuelli moved to Taiwan from Italy nearly eight years ago to study Chinese. At first, he came simply as a student, but he ended up building a life here. Now he teaches Italian at a cram school and has made friends with many of his students. He has also become a popular content creator by making videos introducing Italian food and culture.

On a weekend morning in the classroom, Giovanni Patuelli says a phrase in Italian and his student repeats after him. After holding one-on-one classes every other week, his student has already mastered basic Italian speaking and listening.

Huang Ying-tzu
Student
Giovanni is great at teaching vocabulary. He can explain why two words go together so well. Italian has a lot of adjectives that are used metaphorically, but he breaks it down so you can understand it. It’s fun and helps you remember the word.

After Patuelli moved to Taiwan from Italy, he started teaching Italian. Now nearly eight years later, he has become friends with many of his students.

Giovanni Patuelli
Italian teacher
Being a teacher is quite fun. Even though as a language teacher I usually teach the same content every day, it’s with different people each time. Maybe through my class, they could even become Italian! They could find an Italian husband or work in Italy.

While he was at university in Italy, Patuelli decided to take a break and move to Taiwan to study Mandarin. His journey began after joining National Taiwan Normal University’s Chinese department.

Giovanni Patuelli
Italian teacher
I think Chinese is the hardest language and I wanted to challenge myself, so I came to Taiwan to study Chinese. I had a neighbor whose mother is Taiwanese and father is Italian. We grew up together, so I knew about Taiwan since I was little. When I decided to study Chinese, I knew Taiwan was the place to go.

In addition to teaching Italian in videos, Patuelli also shoots, edits and produces short videos about Italian culture. They have received positive feedback and showcase people’s friendliness and enthusiasm toward him.

Giovanni Patuelli
Italian teacher
Last year I got in a scooter accident and broke my leg. That was so sudden and I don’t have any family in Taiwan. But I realized, my friends here are like my family. I have lived in Taipei longer than any other city, so it really has become my home.

Patuelli may have moved away from his hometown, but Taiwan has been his home for a while. He hopes to get his permanent residency soon.

This story was provided by the program "We Are Family"
Funded by New Immigrant Development Fund

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2024-06-13

Academy of Taiwan Strings brings music to underprivileged children

Children growing up in rural areas rarely have the chance to hear live music. One orchestra from Taipei is committed to improving music education in these places: the Academy of Taiwan Strings. Members volunteer to perform and teach at schools in remote areas all over Taiwan, introducing children to the magic of live music. Many students, inspired by the performance, start learning a musical instrument.

A string quartet shows their musicality on a classroom stage.

The beautiful melody flowing from the musicians’ fingers captures the children’s attention, even though they were busy chatting just a moment ago. From the Academy of Taiwan Strings, these musicians haven’t only visited Taichung’s Heping Junior High School, but travel to schools on Taiwan’s outlying islands.

No matter where they live, the children are all curious about music. The academy performs in remote schools throughout Taiwan to help fill the gap in music education between urban and rural areas.

Cheng Sy-joun
Academy of Taiwan Strings artistic director
I saw a questionnaire from a high school in Taoyuan. The student thought they would never hear live music, so they found our performance very special. I was surprised there was a situation like this in Taoyuan.

Tan Cheng
Academy of Taiwan Strings concertmaster
We were playing songs from Miyazaki. Especially when we got to “Lonely Warrior,” there was a kid, a preschooler, who sang so loud it filled the entire hall. And it’s a big hall!

When the government targets regional disparities in education, they often focus on equipment and teaching resources but overlook the arts. It’s not just about introducing children to music, but giving them tools to make music a part of their lives. The academy cooperates closely with schools, regularly offering lessons to students.

Cheng Sy-joun
Academy of Taiwan Strings artistic director
We visited Taitung and one of my students was from a village in Haiduan. He told me that when he went home to play violin, the entire village noticed because they had never heard it before. It was quite the sensation. This instrument is challenging, it’s not easy to pick up, but at least it has a positive influence.

Even during the pandemic, these musicians continued to perform in rural areas. They are committed to introducing underprivileged children to the magic of music.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2024-06-13