Taiwan reports 16,921 local COVID cases, confirms two cases of BA.5 subvariant

2022-07-25

Taiwan reported just under 17,000 local COVID cases on Monday, the lowest daily tally since May. Officials say the low number is due to low testing over the weekend. Health officials also confirmed two local infections of the BA.5 subvariant. One patient is the relative of a recent arrival to Taiwan. The other is a worker at a shipyard in Southern Taiwan who had recently recovered from another COVID infection less than two months before. Officials have traced the worker’s contacts and found 12 positive cases. They suspect the case is part of a workplace and family cluster, but genetic sequencing results have yet to come out for his contacts. Let’s hear from the CECC.

Philip Lo
CECC
The contacts at his workplace are more likely to have been in close quarters with imported cases. But in his family, we also have a case who developed symptoms before the case we announced today. We still think it’s more likely that the cluster started from the workplace.

Kaohsiung’s Department of Health says the relevant areas have been disinfected, and PCR will be carried out on all workplace contacts every two days.

本土+16921 增2例BA.5個案 CDC擴大匡列

2022-07-25

受到週末效應影響，週一本土病例數單日降到2萬例以下，只有16921例，創五月以來新低。指揮中心也公布，BA.5新增兩例本土個案，其中一人是機場接送、被家人傳染，另外一例是在南部船廠工作的男性，確診後不到兩個月，再度染疫，緊急擴大匡列接觸者，再驗出12人陽性，研判可能是職場、家庭群聚感染，仍待定序確認。

[[指揮中心醫療應變組副組長羅一鈞]]
“職場這一邊，比較有可能是接觸到邊境這邊，境外的這些個案，但是家人這邊也有一位，他的發病日其實比今天(7/25)公布的個案，稍微早一點點，還是比較懷疑說，是從職場這邊來的可能性，比較高一點。”

針對這名病例，高雄市衛生局說明，已完成環境清消工作，並每2日針對職場接觸者全數執行PCR序列採檢。

Taiwan’s recurve mixed team wins gold at 2022 Archery World Cup Stage 4

2022-07-25

Video tells life story of Chen Chi-tsun, wood sculptor and Living National Treasure

2022-07-25

Taitung road safety experts hold contest to crown slowest scooter rider

Road safety experts in Taitung recently held a contest to find the slowest scooter rider. That’s right, contestants had to take as long as possible to complete the “race.” The winning contestant managed to spend a good 32 seconds on just 15 meters of road. The tournament aimed to encourage riders to take riding lessons, building skills and improving road safety. Never say safety and fun don’t go hand in hand.

A student rides a motorbike down a thin green strip, wobbling to and fro. Pressing carefully on the accelerator, but steadying with the brake, is the way to maintain balance. Hitting a black line is a no-no. This is the Straight Line Balance Scooter Riding Championship at Taitung Motor Vehicles Supervision Station, where students are duking it out for the title of slowest rider.

The champion managed to take 30 whole seconds to complete the line. The audience demanded an encore. You can see how he’s holding his breath as he sways side to side, continuously joggling the accelerator pedal. In the end he broke his own record and managed a new score of 32 seconds for a 15-meter “race.”

Lu Shao-cheng
Champion scooter rider
You have to relax but hold your breath. You have to grip the brake well, keep balanced and use your core.

The station organized this slow-riding contest to encourage people to brush up their riding skills in proper classes, with professional instruction from experts. Contestants had to ride as slowly as possible down a 15-meter strip just 30 centimeters wide. The prize was NT$5,000 cash and lots of students tried their luck. But riding slowly requires a steady hand. It can be harder than riding fast. This rider was braking too much, making his whole bike shudder along, ending with a wail of frustration.

Hsiao Chang-ching
Taitung Motorbike Racing Association
The front wheel should be nice and full, and the back broad, to be stable. Then it depends on your physical coordination. If you have that you’ll probably do great, you can get it to stop on a short line like this.

This unique contest was both a way to get scooter riders up to speed – or down to speed? – and to blow off some steam in the summer sun.

2022-07-25

Northern Taiwan halts for 30 minutes for Wanan air defense drills

2022-07-25

CDC orders monkeypox medication as WHO declares disease global health emergency

The CDC has finalized an order for monkeypox medication, which could be delivered to Taiwan as early as next month. So far Taiwan has reported just two cases of the disease, both imported. But on Sunday, the World Health Organization declared the disease a global health emergency.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
WHO secretary-general
I have decided that the global monkeypox outbreak represents a public health emergency of international concern.

The WHO has officially designated monkeypox as a public health emergency of international concern, after cases have been confirmed in more than 70 countries. So far Taiwan has reported just two cases of the disease, both imported. But to be prepared, the CDC has placed orders for monkeypox vaccines and treatments. An order for oral drugs has already been finalized, and could be delivered as early as next month.

Huang Li-min
NTU Children’s Hospital
This prevents the monkeypox virus from reproducing inside cells. It makes the virus less effective at reproducing. That prevents infection to another person and also makes symptoms milder for the patient.

Tecovirimat can be used to treat smallpox, monkeypox and cowpox. It disrupts the proteins on the surface of the virus, inhibiting its normal reproduction. It can be used in adults and on children weighing at least 13 kilograms. It is available as an oral drug or an intravenous injection. Taiwan’s purchase is for the oral form, and could be delivered as early as August.

With border controls easing, the number of people entering Taiwan is growing. Doctors say that the current regulations won’t stop monkeypox from entering Taiwan, as the disease spreads by close contact between people.

Huang Li-min
NTU Children’s Hospital
Monkeypox has a long incubation period, and it’s hard to tell when symptoms start. The current 3+4 quarantine model won’t stop it from entering Taiwan. In the future, more people will be able to travel to Taiwan. That means that the chances of someone with monkeypox entering will be higher.

Wu Chang-teng
Chang Gung Memorial Hospital
In terms of border controls, imposing quarantines on people suspected of having monkeypox is a very important measure. For now, it seems that most patients got infected during sex.

Globally, the number of infections is growing most rapidly among people aged 20 to 50. Doctors say there is no need to be overly worried, just cautious.

2022-07-25

Stampede of viewers check out a house up for auction at cheap price

The auction of a house in Tainan is attracting unprecedented attention. The old house will be sold off at a surprisingly cheap price. Officials are selling it to write off the debts of its late owner. But they’re amazed that hundreds of people have come out to view the property. In today’s market, a good house at a low price is bound to cause a stampede.

What building could attract so much interest? People have come here all the way from Taipei just to see this house on an alleyway off Tainan’s You’ai Street. Its upcoming auction has caused a real stir.

Member of public
My little sister likes Tainan, so she thinks there are old houses near here, and the pace of life is good, so she’s planning to retire here.

Member of public
I make art. I’d get people to come here to see it and drink coffee. My daughter-in-law makes coffee.

The two-story house is about 60 years old. The previous owner died a long time ago with no heirs but more than NT$10,000 of unpaid land tax bills. The Administrative Enforcement Agency has decided to auction off the building to cover the debt. But at the low price of less than NT$4 million, it’s attracted a storm of attention.

Chang Jung-cheh
Administrative Enforcement Agency
It’s being auctioned cheaply at NT$3.76 million. Over the course of one morning, 110 groups of viewers came to see the house.

Lin Wen-po
Real estate agent
What’s caused this massive influx of people viewing the house is the explosion in people doing rental accommodation recently, and the development of creative business travel.

Although tucked away in an alleyway, the house is in an iconic part of Tainan city center, making it hot property. But all this interest might drive the price up.

Member of public
There are so many people viewing the house. It will probably be hard to win it. There are so many people, the chances are very low. The winning bid will be on a knife edge. It won’t be pretty.

The real estate agent warns that the old house needs attention. Renovations won’t be cheap. The buyer will need some savings ready.

2022-07-25

Fossilized dino embryo on display as NCHU opens natural history museum

2022-07-25

June food and drink revenue grows by 61.7% from last year

2022-07-25

Central bank may hold interim meeting as Fed readies rate hike

The Fed is preparing to raise interest rates this week, in a response to record-high inflation. Taiwan may follow suit and raise its own rates, but when and by how much will depend on U.S. action. One analyst says the board of directors of Taiwan’s central bank may hold an interim meeting if the U.S. raises its rates by 1 percentage point.

Impacted by world events, inflation in the U.S. reached 9.1% in June – a 41-year record high. The situation has people watching closely as the U.S. Federal Reserve readies a large rate hike.

Chang Chuan-yi
Taiwan Institute of Economic Research
If the U.S. raises rates by 1 percentage point, then we’ll have to watch what the central bank governor does. I think we can’t rule out the possibility that the board of directors will hold an interim meeting. As for whether a rate hike can curb inflation, actually the impact will be limited. There appears to be pent-up demand, but overly pent-up demand can affect economic growth.

If the U.S. raises rates by 1 percentage point, the analyst believes the board of directors may hold an interim meeting. However, the analyst advised the central bank governor to avoid raising Taiwan’s own interest rates too much. He said that in the face of inflation, a sharp correction in the financial market coupled with the impact of the COVID epidemic could further reduce consumer demand. Already, the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research has adjusted Taiwan’s projected annual GDP growth downward to 3.81%, and the CPI upward to 2.95%. A number of uncertainties remain for the second half of the year.

Gordon Sun
Taiwan Institute of Economic Research
The U.S. has about 50 days worth of reserves left, and if its reserves are increased, the price of oil will rise sharply again. The way things look at present, if the three major economies – the U.S., the EU and China – continue to decline throughout the second half of the year, then that decline will likely continue. However, you may have noticed that worldwide nobody is saying there will be a recession this year. Everyone is saying a recession will come next year. For example, the U.S. inverted interest rates recently, and interest rate inversion is not immediately followed by recession. You’ll have to wait until next year for that to happen.

Some have speculated that if the U.S. raises its interest rate by only 0.75 percentage points, then Taiwan’s central bank is likely to wait until September to follow suit. The rate hike in the U.S. will also affect currency exchange rates. However, the extent of its impact will depend on what the Fed does this week.

2022-07-25

Analyst says US may shelve Pelosi visit as leverage for Biden-Xi talk

Debate continues over whether U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will visit Taiwan in August. Reports had indicated she was planning a Taiwan trip, prompting protests from China, which has also threatened consequences. One analyst says the Biden administration may cancel the trip to improve its leverage in upcoming talks with Beijing. Meanwhile, former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on social media that he’d be willing to join Pelosi to Taiwan should the visit go ahead.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo could soon visit Taiwan for a second time. On Twitter, the former secretary tagged U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, saying, “Nancy, I’’ll go with you. I’’m banned in China, but not freedom-loving Taiwan. See you there!” Pompeo’s support for Pelosi’s Taiwan visit came after Beijing expressed fierce opposition to the planned trip, putting the U.S. in a dilemma.

Joe Biden
US president
The military thinks it’s not a good idea right now, but I don’t know what the status of it is.

Nancy Pelosi
US House speaker
My travel plans – it’s a security issue. If we’re going to have a discussion about that, I think that it’s important for us to show support for Taiwan. I think what the president was saying is, maybe the military was afraid our plane would get shot down, or something like that, by the Chinese. I don’t know exactly. I didn’t see it, and hear it.

China has expressed objections to the visit, and has said that if Pelosi’s trip goes through, it would take actions. A columnist at The Washington Post wrote that if Pelosi does visit Taiwan, the U.S. would likely dispatch aircraft carriers or fighter jets to provide air support for the military plane that would carry Pelosi.

Su Tzu-yun
Institute for National Defense and Security Research
It is impossible that Pelosi, who is second in line to the presidency, would be scared into changing her travel plans over Chinese threats. The U.S. Air Force’s fighter jets, its navy’s carriers and fighter jets, and its defensive positions throughout the region would ensure that its key personnel can travel freely and safely.

Several U.S. representatives have also voiced their support for Pelosi’’s visit to Taiwan in recent days. Some have encouraged Pelosi to speak out against the U.S.’ “One China” policy. However, one researcher said that with U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping due to hold a video conference in the coming days, and with China’s national congress on the horizon, the Pelosi visit comes at a sensitive time.

Arthur Ding
NCCU Graduate Institute of Asian Studies
The U.S. government may have some expectations of China they hope to bring to the table, which would be totally shelved if Pelosi visits Taiwan.

Su Tzu-yun
Institute for National Defense and Security Research
I think China will face a strong backlash, and its attitude is not that of a responsible power. It is just confirming the so-called China threat theory.

Pelosi has been a force behind many Taiwan-friendly laws in the U.S., and has spared no effort to strengthen Taiwan-U.S. ties. She’s also been vocal on the need to assist Taiwan in developing its asymmetric warfare capabilities. A visit to Taiwan by Pelosi would send a strong signal on U.S. support for Taiwan’s democracy. Though detractors say a visit at this sensitive time could also worsen an already tense situation.

2022-07-25