Taiwan plans to evacuate Diamond Princess passengers

2020-02-18

Taiwan plans to send a charter plane to evacuate its citizens on the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which is quarantined in Japan due to the spread of COVID-19. Health Minister Chen Shih-chung said an application to send a charter plane had been filed to the Japanese government. The ship’s 14-day quarantine ends on Wednesday, but Taiwan says its evacuation will be delayed two to three days because two citizens still need further tests. Australia, Italy, Canada, and Hong Kong are also negotiating to send charter flights. The U.S. has arranged to evacuate hundreds of its citizens early.

Following rounds of inspection and disinfection, the American passengers of the Diamond Princess boarded two charter flights. After a 10-hour flight, they arrived at air bases in California and Texas. The flights carried 14 confirmed COVID-19 patients. Thirteen were sent directly to quarantine centers at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

Chris Kratochvil
US public health official
We have the facilities. We have the resources and expertise.

The Diamond Princess was placed on a 14-day quarantine on Feb. 5. Its passengers are due to disembark on Wednesday, Feb. 19. Ahead of the date, the U.S. arranged to evacuate some of its citizens. Plans are underway for Australia, Italy, Canada, Hong Kong, and Taiwan to send charter flights.

John Ka-chiu Lee
Hong Kong government official
We have arranged two charter flights ready to take them to leave Japan on the 19th so that they can come back to Hong Kong on the 20th.

Scott Morrison
Australian prime minister
What we have agreed to do today is to take action, by providing a direct assistance to those who are on that vessel by providing for an assisted departure flight from Japan to Australia on this Wednesday.

Chen Shih-chung (Feb. 17)
Central Epidemic Command Center
We have already filed a flight application with Japan. It’s going through the relevant process. Of course we want to bring these passengers back.

Sources say the plan had been for a China Airlines charter flight to arrive at Japan’s Haneda Airport Wednesday at 5 p.m. and depart for Taiwan at 7 p.m. But Tuesday morning, Taiwan’s representative office informed passengers that the flight would be postponed two to three days, because there were still two nationals who hadn’t finished the screening process.

Wang Ding-yu
DPP lawmaker
After this quarantine report comes out, we’ll have to wait another two to three days, according to our sources in Japan. Our government’s attitude toward this has been very clear. Epidemic prevention comes first.

Nicknamed the ship of doom, the Diamond Princess has had 542 confirmed virus cases so far, out of a total of 2,404 passengers and crew tested. Four of the 25 Taiwanese nationals were diagnosed.

公主號明隔離期滿我包機最快21日載回

2020-02-18

鑽石公主號，2月5日開始海上隔離，19日隔離期滿就可下船，各國忙著安排包機接人。美國昨天已經先撤僑，台灣也已向日本提出飛航申請，將透過華航包機，接回25名國人。不過駐日代表處今天上午傳訊息給乘客，表示因為還有2位國人還沒完成篩檢，原定19日的包機要延後2到3天。

經歷漫長的檢查消毒過程，鑽石公主號上的美國旅客終於分批坐上兩架歸國包機， 10個小時的飛行後，陸續抵達加州和德州的空軍基地，各載有7名確診旅客，當中13名成人一落地，就被送往內布拉斯加大學醫學中心隔離。

[[醫學中心人員克拉托區佛]]
“我們有設施也有資源和專業，處理這類人員”

2月5日開始海上隔離14天的鑽石公主號，19日旅客就可以下船，美國搶在之前率先將國人接回，澳洲、義大利、加拿大，香港和台灣也都著手進行包機接人。

[[香港保安局局長李家超]]
“我們已安排2架包機，於19日去日本接人，預計20日可以回到香港”

[[澳洲總理莫里森]]
“我們同意採取行動提供直接協助，將公主號上的國人接回，周三(19日)提供飛機從日本飛回澳洲”

[[中央流行疫情指揮中心指揮官陳時中]] (2.17)
“現在我們已經提出了，向日本提出了飛航申請，相關的程序都在進行中，那當然，我們想要把他們接回來”

不過，原本傳出華航專機將在19日傍晚5點抵達日本羽田機場，晚上7點起飛回台，今天上午駐日代表處傳訊息給船上乘客，表示因為目前仍有2位國人還沒完成篩檢，包機不得不延後2到3天，才能接回國人。

[[立委(民) 王定宇]]
“等這個檢疫報告出來，根據日本那邊的消息，大概還要2到3天，我們政府的態度很清楚，第一個防疫要做好。”

被稱為"海上武漢"的鑽石公主號，到目前為止，全船共檢查了2，404人，共計542人確診。台灣25人當中，有4人確診。

Citizen Congress Watch struggles to balance books as virus slump hits donations

Not-for-profits that rely on donations are suffering from the economic slump caused by the novel coronavirus. Donations to Citizen Congress Watch have taken a nosedive. The public oversight group compiles records and reports to maintain transparency and accountability in Taiwanese politics. But without an urgent injection of cash, the group will have to shut down next month.

Citizen Congress Watch. A wall of folders holds records on all the goings-on of the legislature. Its website provides the public with a detailed breakdown of each legislator’s attendance and participation rate at each legislative sitting. But the homepage carries an eye-popping danger warning: the NGO will have to close down in March if it can’t fix its finances.

Chang Hung-lin
Citizen Congress Watch
Since the outbreak of the coronavirus, the whole economy has slowed down. Of course the first thing to be affected is donations to not-for-profits. What we’re worried about is that we might run out of money to pay our staff wages in March.

On average the organization receives NT$8 million in donations annually. Monthly running costs are NT$700,000. Before the outbreak, forecasts suggested they would get an influx of donations after the election. That’s because those who had been donating to election campaigns would be expected to switch to the NGO. But under the shadow of the virus, the balance sheet has dropped to less than NT$200,000.

Chang Hung-lin
Citizen Congress Watch
The legislature’s annual budget is about NT$4 billion. We only have one five-hundredth of that budget. It’s really not a lot at all. We never thought that we would struggle to raise even just NT$8 million.

Founded in 2007, the group publishes oversight reports on every sitting of the legislature, enabling citizens to monitor their elected representatives and potentially weed out those who don’t live up to their jobs. CEO Chang Hung-lin is proud of their accomplishments.

Chang Hung-lin
Citizen Congress Watch
When we started out, the legislature only met for two or three hours a day. Now it’s about four or five hours. The rate at which legislators actively participate and ask questions has also risen from 44% to 90%.

The NGO is calling for donations urgently to allow it continue its work, and keep the government working for the people through the virus crisis and beyond.

2020-02-18

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2020-02-18

Premier Su visits lawmakers to court support for bailout bill

Premier Su Tseng-chang visited the Legislative Yuan on Tuesday to mobilize support behind his economic bailout bill for COVID-19. The premier paid a friendly call on newly elected Legislative Speaker You Si-kun, who hailed him as a brother. Premier Su also visited the legislative caucus of the KMT, which expressed support for the bailout. Su’s bill will be submitted for lawmakers to review on Friday.

Premier Su and his administrative team paid a visit to Speaker You.

You Si-kun
Legislative speaker
Premier Su and I have known each other for over 38 years. We’re like brothers, and we’ll work well together. If the Executive Yuan needs us to do anything to assist the country, we will absolutely offer our full support.

Su Tseng-chang
Premier
The epidemic is worsening. The day after tomorrow, we’ll approve a set of special measures and send it to the Legislative Yuan for review as soon as possible. We’ve asked Speaker You to help with that.

The bailout bill contains measures that focus on finance, employment and the tax system. The Executive Yuan plans to finalize the bill on Thursday so the Legislative Yuan can discuss it on its opening session on Friday.

Su Tseng-chang
Premier
Each industry has been affected in different ways. We’ll have measures for all of them. We hope the bill will have an effect quickly and offer support to all.

In the morning, Su and DPP caucus leaders visited the offices of opposition parties to seek support for the bill. They hope it will be passed as soon as possible.

Su Tseng-chang
Premier
We specifically came to the KMT caucus to solicit their feedback and support. If we can effectively contain the epidemic, there will be a great deal of bills, budgets and so on.

Chiang Wan-an
KMT caucus secretary-general
Regardless of party affiliation, we all hope the bill will pass quickly to reassure the public. We also hope the government will act quickly so the Taiwanese people stranded in Wuhan and other cities severely affected by the epidemic get back to Taiwan safely.

The KMT caucus took the opportunity to make a request of its own. As the epidemic grows, it’s proving a test of cooperation between the ruling party and the opposition.

2020-02-18

246 Wuhan evacuees released with clean bill of health

Two hundred and forty-six people have been released from their mandatory 14-day quarantine inside three Taiwan facilities. They were held there after returning from the Chinese city of Wuhan, on what has been Taiwan’s first and only evacuation flight so far. The released evacuees all tested negative for COVID-19. Even so, they’ve been asked to wear a face mask outdoors at all times for the next 14 days.

After 14 days in quarantine, 246 of those on Taiwan’s first evacuation flight from Wuhan are free to go.

All of them, young and old, emerged with face masks. They said it was good to be going home.

This first group of Wuhan evacuees arrived in Taiwan late at night on Feb. 3. With the exception of one passenger who was later diagnosed, everyone on the flight has been released from quarantine. But not all restrictions have been lifted. They were tested one last time before release, and will now have to perform what’s called “independent health management” for 14 days.

Wang Bi-sheng
Public health administrator
After they get home, they’ll have to do “independent health management.” Our hope is that they’ll avoid crowded public spaces. If they do need to go out, they must wear a mask. And if they experience any symptoms, they must inform us.

Tsai Ing-wen
President
It’s gratifying that they are in fine health. We’ll continue following up with them and encouraging them to look after their own health properly. We’re very grateful to have had their full cooperation during the security process. I also think that Taiwan’s experience with this case is worth sharing with the world.

Also on Tuesday, President Tsai Ing-wen received and thanked a delegation of permanent representatives to the U.N. She also once again appealed to the global community for Taiwan’s inclusion.

Tsai Ing-wen
President
Political issues should never override the right to health. Taiwan is on the front line in dealing with the current outbreak and should not be excluded from that network.
Taiwan’s participation in the WHO would help ensure that we bring the epidemic under control in a much faster and more efficient manner. Taiwan will keep working toward this goal. It is therefore our hope that our diplomatic allies will continue to voice support for Taiwan and endorse our involvement.

Taiwan’s Central Epidemic Command Center lodged an appeal of its own. It said the 246 evacuees enjoyed a clean bill of health, and that there was no need for the public to fear or ostracize them.

2020-02-18

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How old shoes can save lives

Throughout the world, millions of quality shoes are thrown away every year. However, those shoes can actually be reused and protect people from a parasitic flea called jiggers. An internet-based campaign initiated by a Taiwanese has been sending unwanted second-hand shoes, clothes and bags from Taiwan to rural areas in Africa. Over the past five years, they have sent over millions of pairs of shoes. Formosa News spoke to the founders of the organization to learn more.

The volunteers take each pair of shoes out of the box, making sure they are wearable. Then they sort them into different bags.

Lastly, they seal the bag and the shoes are ready to go into the shipping container.

Stephany Yang
Formosa News reporter
After these shoes are sorted and packaged, they are sent to Kenya and other parts of Africa.

All these discarded shoes, clothes and bags in the warehouse will be donated to Africa. Two containers are sent to Africa every month.

Many children in Kenya must walk barefoot between two and four hours to attend school. Many cannot afford shoes. Therefore, these used shoes from Taiwan can help protect locals, especially children, from a bug called jiggers. Millions of feet are infected with jiggers in many countries of East Africa. Yang Yu-jen, inspired by his father-in-law, a retired Canadian missionary, launched an online campaign "Old Shoes Save Lives." Since 2014, they have received at least 2 million shoes and have sent them all to African countries, such as Kenya and Uganda.

Yang Yu-jen
Step30 founder
My father-in-law first built a school there. A lot of kids they have problem with jiggers. It’s basically a parasite that will bury themselves into their feet from walking on the dirt road. They will start to lay eggs and suck their blood, and their whole legs will get infested. If severe, you might need amputation or life-threatening situations. A door opened up where we can do something for the people and the villages in Kenya. It turned into something bigger than we thought it would. Even later on, we expand to different countries is because of that concept where if there’s something we can do, let’s go do it.

Kara Remley
Step30 co-founder
I know that we won’t be able to change everybody’s life. But if we can help some people to change their life, that they can be a leader in their community. We do our part, but there are also churches and pastors in Kenya, there’s other organizations, we’re all doing little bits and pieces to help these people. It’s really cool to see, to be able to go a few years later and see the people that you met before and and how their life has changed.

If you’re interested in donating, children’s shoes, closed-toe shoes and sneakers are welcome, while high heels, winter boots or even wooden clogs are not. Besides the "Old Shoes Save Lives" initiative, Yang later launched a non-government organization called Step30 International Ministries, where volunteers help out with projects like drilling wells and building education and medical centers in Africa.

Yang Yu-jen
Step30 founder
We should do prevention. We started to do educations on hygiene, we started having nurses on the ground teaching them, and then we started building those medical educational centers. I think ultimately that’s what’s going to help them. Because poverty, the thing about poverty is everything is interconnected. You cannot solve one aspect of it thinking their life is going to be better. You kind of have to tackle all different areas.

Besides providing shoes, the containers that are used to transport shoes will be turned into a container school providing education for children in Africa.

In addition, Yang’s wife Kara Remley and her mother have also created a project to teach African women how to make reusable sanitary pads.

Kara Remley
Step30 co-founder
Really, we just saw that a lot of the girls couldn’t go to school because they didn’t have sanitary pads. We would teach them how to cut it, how to sew it. Then, of course turn it inside out and then we teach them how to hygienically use it.

Yang Yu-jen
Step30 founder
In 2020, we are looking into selecting more villages. With the project, we are talking about village transformation. Which we select a village, we want to provide them clean water, education, food and medical care. I hope to select two to three more so we can work with them in the next five or 10 years.

Yang and Remley hope to encourage more people under the age of 30 to become involved in humanitarian aid work, and help more people in the world.

2020-02-18

Taiwanese company signs deal with US to develop COVID-19 vaccine

2020-02-18

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2020-02-18

Online retail booming as citizens stay at home in shadow of coronavirus

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Traditional Chinese medicine ingredients grow dearer

2020-02-18

Taiwan plans to evacuate Diamond Princess passengers