Taiwan reports first imported case of BA.2.75 subvariant

2022-07-22

Taiwan reported 23,813 local cases of COVID on Friday and 86 COVID-related deaths. Health officials say the death rate in Taiwan has risen to 0.18%. They also confirmed Taiwan’’s first imported case of the BA.2.75 subvariant. Let’’s hear from the CECC.

Philip Lo
CECC
We’ve also detected the first case of the BA.2.75 omicron subvariant in Taiwan in a traveler who recently visited India. He is a Taiwanese man in his 30s who had received three vaccine doses. He arrived in Taiwan from India on July 10 with a relative and a friend. All three tested positive in the saliva test carried out upon arrival at the airport. The man’s relative and friend had been infected by the more common BA.4 subvariant. It just shows that over in India, there are many variants circulating. The three developed a fever on July 10, but they all experienced mild symptoms. Their symptoms have all eased and they’ve been released from isolation.

The CECC says the BA.2.75 subvariant was first identified in the world in May. Since then, it has become the dominant strain in India and has been detected in at least 15 countries. The BA.2.75 subvariant has 16 new mutations compared with the BA.2. Eight of them are in the virus’’s spike region, which allows it to evade immunity more easily. The World Health Organization says it does not know yet whether the new variant is more severe.

首例BA.2.75現蹤 30歲男從印度入境驗出

2022-07-22

台灣今天新增23，813例本土個案，確診個案中新增86例死亡，致死率上升至萬分之18。同時，台灣也驗出首例Omicron變異株BA.2.75，來聽聽指揮中心的說法。

[[指揮中心醫療應變組副組長羅一均]]
“在邊境這邊偵測出我們國內首例的BA.2.75，這一個新的Omicron變異株的確定病例，這個是一個印度境外移入的病例，他是住在北部的一個本國籍的30多歲的男性，接種過3劑疫苗，在7/10的時候跟他的一位家人以及一位朋友，一起從印度飛過來台灣這邊，在機場的唾液採檢，3個人都陽性確診，親友的定序都是比較稍微常見一點的BA.4，顯示說在印度這邊，他們是有多病毒同時在流行。3位同行者在7/10這天都有發燒的症狀，不過都屬於輕症，目前症狀都已經緩解，也都解除隔離”

指揮中心指出，BA.2.75變異株最早於今年5月發現，已於印度快速傳播並成為該國主流株，目前全球已有至少15國報告病例。BA.2.75變異株比BA.2多增加16個突變位點，還有8個在S蛋白，具有免疫逃脫特性，恐怕會讓疫苗效力變差，WHO表示尚須研究證實 BA.2.75傳染力及致重症機率。

Temperatures in Hualien soar to 41.2 degrees as Banqiao records highest temp in 19 years

2022-07-22

Spanish choreographer Marina Mascarell shows sci-fi inspired dance piece in Taipei

A new dance piece choreographed by award-winning Spanish choreographer Marina Mascarell will be showcased in Taiwan in August. The dance piece will be performed by Taiwan’’s dance troupe, "Dance Forum Taipei", and is inspired by the science fiction novel "Parable of the Sower." FTV reporter Stephany Yang met Mascarell to find out more about her piece.

Dancers take the stage, interacting with tubes, water pipes, tiles, strings, bamboo and other abandoned objects. Through the organic sound of their bodies and objects, the dancers travel through different worlds, encouraging the audience to value objects that they often neglect.

Marina Mascarell
Choreographer
The dancers travel through different worlds created with abandoned objects or objects that in our society don’’t have a lot of value. But they elevate those objects and give them value. In the first world, we used tubes. It’’s a whole world of tubes which makes a special sound and they learn from these objects. Their bodies learn from those objects. The second world is full of tiles. It’’s construction tiles that are not used anymore. They create special sounds and instruments with them for their bodies.

This is a choreography piece by award-winning Spanish choreographer Marina Mascarell. The dance piece, called “Orthopedica Corporatio,” is inspired by the science fiction novel “Parable of the Sower.”

Marina Mascarell
Choreographer
The inspiration behind this piece is the novel by Octavia E. Butler called the “Parable of the Sower” which generates the journey of a community to survive. That was the main inspiration or the piece. We have created a community of singular people that shares the space and travel through different landscapes and soundscapes. It’’s a community that is open to listen to each other. It’’s a science fiction community.

Mascarell says this show caters to the Taiwanese audience and showcases Taiwanese characteristics.

Marina Mascarell
Choreographer
The landscape is definitely Taiwanese and the dancers are recreating absolutely everything. Obviously, it’’s very different also because the concept of community in your society is very different to our concept of community. This is a more collective society that takes in consideration more of the community compared to where I come from, which is more individualistic. This makes a huge difference in the way people approach this work and they approach the tasks and objects.

Mascarell has been awarded several prizes during her career. Her work has been seen in The Netherlands, Taiwan, Germany, Sweden, Spain, Korea, and more. “Orthopedica Corporatio” will be on show from Aug. 26-28 at the newly opened Taipei Performing Arts Center.

2022-07-22

Teen hoping to become youngest person to fly around the world solo touches down in Taipei

2022-07-22

KMT, DPP candidates exchange barbs as election campaigning for Taipei mayor heats up

The municipal elections are just over four months away but already in Taipei the gloves are off. The KMT’’s mayoral candidate Chiang Wan-an alleged that the DPP’’s candidate Chen Shih-chung, who just resigned as health minister, couldn’’t do epidemic prevention properly. Chiang even went as far as to accuse Chen of lying all the time. Chen in response said the Taiwan government’’s fight against the pandemic had marked a new chapter in world public health. Meanwhile, local pundits are divided on whether the three-way mayoral race could be to Chen’’s advantage. Some say Chen could get elected on a split vote, while others say the DPP’’s 28-year-long losing streak in Taipei will continue.

The DPP’s Taipei mayoral candidate Chen Shih-chung on Friday continued to stump at temples, attracting crowds of supporters. But one man in the crowd in particular caught attention from the media after turning up to Chen’s campaign events for three days in a row. Reports say over the past six years, the man had sought help from the KMT’s rival candidate Chiang Wan-an on four occasions, leading some to question his motives.

Chiang Wan-an
KMT Taipei mayoral candidate
I held seven meetings to assist this petitioner and helped him issue 14 official documents. Although I did not entirely fulfill his wishes, I have already done my absolute best.

Chen Shih-chung
DPP Taipei mayoral candidate
If the citizens run into difficulties, we’re willing to listen to them. We’ll look into our records and see which ministry can help.

Chen and Chiang both made a big show of how they each help members of the public. A new poll released by a foundation run by KMT legislator Johnny Chiang reveals that 56% of the public are dissatisfied with former health minister Chen’s performance in fighting the COVID pandemic. In that poll, dissatisfaction with the government procurement of COVID vaccines also broke the 50% mark.

Chiang Wan-an
KMT Taipei mayoral candidate
Chen Shih-chung’s epidemic prevention results simply don’t make the grade. Politicians actually need to be honest with the people, not like Minister Chen Chih-chung, who lies all the time.

Chen Shih-chung
DPP Taipei mayoral candidate
I think this is something that everyone can evaluate. However, I just want to say here, I insist that our epidemic prevention results get a score of at least a 75, or even 80. This will be remembered as a new chapter in the world’s history of public health.

Some media pundits say Chen could be the DPP candidate with the best chance at winning back Taiwan’s capital for his party, after 28 years of DPP losses in the Taipei mayoral race. But a three-way race could also result in defeat, as happened in 2018. Will Chen’s race result in victory like Chen Shui-bian or defeat like Yao Wen-chih?

Chen Shih-chung
DPP Taipei mayoral candidate
We need to adopt the “Ah-chung” model. We will work hard, Ah-chung will do the right thing, and I hope the public will support what we do.

Taking off his tie and rolling up his sleeves, Chen has adopted his own “Ah-chung” model for electoral campaigning as he fights to win the capital back for his party.

2022-07-22

Both sides of 5.4-kilometer cross-sea Kinmen Bridge connected after 12 years

2022-07-22

Premier Su meets Ukrainian students living in Taiwan

Earlier this year, the Ministry of Education launched a program with eight universities to allow up to 281 Ukrainian students to flee the war in their country and study in Taiwan. On Friday, Premier Su Tseng-chang sat down with some of those students, chatting to them about how they were adjusting to life in Taiwan.

Premier Su Tseng-chang and Education Minister Pan Wen-chung are on stage together, meeting Ukrainian students in Taiwan. Since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine more than five months ago, Taiwan has donated more than US$45 million and more than 600 tons of aid to Ukrainians in need. The Ministry of Education worked with several universities to waive tuition and miscellaneous fees for more than 281 students. The aim was to help Ukrainian refugees flee the war and become students in Taiwan.

Su Tseng-chang
Premier
Next to Taiwan we have a huge and barbaric country that is always talking about using force against our families. So the situation in Ukraine made us think that we should help each other and care for each other.

Su criticized China’s constant warmongering, saying that Taiwan and Ukraine were in similar situations with aggressive neighbors. A Ukrainian student at the event who lived through the attacks in Ukraine said she hoped the war would end soon.

Anna Fursyk
Ukrainian student representative
Because us Ukrainians already know that war only brings pain and death. All of us Ukrainians do not want to see war break out in the world. And that is why we hope the war will end as soon as possible. We believe that we can protect our land, our country and our rightful independence.

Su Tseng-chang
Premier
I wanted to take this opportunity to hear whether any of you had found any difficulties in your studies in Taiwan. If there is anything we should improve, you’re more than welcome to bring it up. Just now we heard from Anna, who speaks Mandarin so well. I think you’ll have no problem graduating.

Su also made sure that the Ukrainian students had a good stay in Taiwan, suggesting that they go to his hometown in Pingtung to enjoy the beauty of Southern Taiwan. These blossoming ties between Ukraine and Taiwan show that friend in need is a friend indeed.

2022-07-22

Debate rages over whether chefs should wear masks in hot kitchens

2022-07-22

People aged 50 and up and workers going abroad now eligible for a fourth COVID shot

A fourth dose of COVID vaccine became available on Friday for people aged 50 and up, as well as people who need to leave Taiwan for work purposes. Dozens of people turned up at vaccination sites early in the morning to get a shot. Some of them said they were concerned about a lack of mask wearing in foreign countries, and hoped that the additional booster would offer some protection.

A long line of people formed on Friday outside a COVID vaccination site at Taipei Stadium. Before even 9 a.m. almost 100 people were here to get their fourth COVID vaccine shot. The CECC recently expanded eligibility for second booster shots to people aged 50 and up. People going abroad for work can now be assessed if they need an additional shot.

Member of public
I need to go abroad to handle some affairs. So I don’t know – abroad, people are going around without masks – so I don’t know what will happen when I go.

Member of public
I want to go outside. I’ve been cooped up at home for two, almost three months now. So now that it’s the summer break, I would like to go out, but safely. I’m going to retire soon, so I might have more chances to travel abroad in the future.

Some worry about getting infected abroad and having to deal with a foreign healthcare system. Others say they are getting the shot so they can feel safe when Taiwan opens its borders. Experts say that workers who need to go abroad should get this fourth shot two weeks before departure, but at least five months after their first booster shot. The relevant proof from the employer must be provided at the vaccination site, as well as proof of outgoing plane tickets. Any vaccine brand can be used for the fourth shot, but availability varies from place to place. Doctors say people aged 50 and up should go get their shot as soon as they can.

Chiang Kuan-yu
Taipei City Hospital
The older you are, the more chronic diseases you probably have. This all puts you at high risk for moderate to severe COVID symptoms. Around the world, people are getting chronic diseases younger. So perhaps even if you are just 50, you might not be as healthy as before. Your immune system may be a little worse.

CECC head Victor Wang on Friday went to Taoyuan International Airport to inspect procedures. The number of departing, arriving and transfer passengers has soared with the start of the summer break, and queues can get a little slow during peak hours.

Victor Wang
CECC head
The cap on weekly passengers is adjusted depending on how prepared we are to receive such a number of travelers at the airport. We also have to keep in mind the international COVID situation. Right now, the world is in the peak of another wave. So we need to observe the situation and look at the death rate and rate of severe infection when it reaches the peak. These are all factors we consider.

The CECC official said there were not yet any plans to remove quarantines for travelers, but said that Taiwan could consider increasing the caps on weekly arrivals.

2022-07-22