News (1) to (3) / Writer : Shen Zhengnan (psychiatrist at Caotun Nursing Home, Ministry of Health, Taiwan) / Translation, editing : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA
News (1)
The command center is "deified". Doctor: The virus may have replicated in the community for 4 to 5 cycles
Writer : Shen Zhengnan (psychiatrist at Caotun Nursing Home, Ministry of Health, Taiwan) / Translation, editing : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA
China Airlines cluster infection was originally confined to the company and airport hotel. Unexpectedly, the cluster widened 21 days later to include New Taipei and Yilan. There is a community infection spread.
Chen Shizhong said that "the Yilan cluster has a low correlation with China Airlines." This is a rather strange inference, because from the timing and scale of infection, it is most likely that the China Airlines cluster infection has broken through Taiwan's community defense lines.
Yilan mass gathering took place in an amusement park. Five people were diagnosed at once, and one of them was a tourist. This has never happened during the epidemic prevention process in Taiwan for more than a year. It can be seen that epidemic prevention measures have broken a big hole in the amusement park.
In the case of community infection in New Taipei, hundreds of people were in contact. It is obvious that Taiwanese society’s defenses have been seriously slackened. In terms of the distance between New Taipei and Yilan, and the two infections cannot be linked, what is worrying is that the community defense line may have been breached a few weeks ago.
News (2)
Two possibilities of anti-epidemic breach
There are two possibilities.
One is that the China Airlines crew quarantine was changed to "5+9" as early as March, and the virus was introduced to the community because the serum test found that a China Airlines pilot had been infected at that time; the second involving a China Airlines pilot is on 20 April. After the cluster broke out, as the number of cases increased, there was a breach in the community's defense line. In any case, the virus may have been transmitted in the community for at least 4 or 5 replication cycles, so there may be dozens of latent cases in the community. This community cluster infection is definitely the biggest challenge in Taiwan's epidemic prevention for more than a year, and it must tighten its nerves. Why did it cause such a crisis?
The reduction of crew quarantine to "3+11" is certainly the first loophole. If the China Airlines cluster broke out on 20 April, the loopholes in the epidemic prevention should be rushed to prevent the situation of stumbling during the autonomous management period, and it would still have time to block it. The virus, unfortunately, missed the opportunity and left a second loophole. This situation can be said to be exactly the same as the cluster of peaches a few months ago. At first, the command center only listed the floor where the case was located, and the whole hospital was closed until a case appeared in the community. If the cluster of the airport hotel did not cause infection in the community, why did the cluster of China Airlines cause a catastrophe?
It should be noted that the B.1.1.7 variant (first appeared in the UK) may have higher infectivity and severe illness rate than the original novel coronavirus, and may therefore break the defense line of Taiwan's community. Now that the B.1.617 variant appears (first in India), the epidemic will only become more severe. In the face of this epidemic crisis, we must not panic.
Previously, a legislator criticized Chen Shizhong for this wave of epidemics, but was surrounded by netizens. Such criticism did not help prevent the epidemic. Facts have proved that the command centre not only cannot be "deified", it also requires all parties to raise and supervise from a scientific point of view. The most important measure now is to do a good job in the community gathering epidemic situation. For example, in the amusement park, we must trace all the tourists during the infection period of the gathering, and we must not let it go. The next few days will be a critical period.
News (3)
Taiwan in an unprecedented stage of community covi transmission
If all new local cases can be traced to the source, it will be more reassuring to trace the infection chain between the two clusters in Yilan and Xinbei, or even to the China Airlines cluster. On the contrary, if the source of more and more cases cannot be traced, it is necessary to beware that Taiwan has entered an unprecedented stage of community transmission.
Taiwan’s community epidemic prevention network built by masks and social distancing can be successful, provided that the virus has never infiltrated the community, but if there is community transmission, it will be the same as South Korea and Hong Kong, and it will be difficult to cut the roots in the future.
Judging from the recent succession of the command centre, has the epidemic prevention formation changed? Or are the epidemic prevention staff tired? Taking the "China Airlines Zero Program" as an example, it was changed to "2.0" shortly after implementation, which shows that the previous considerations were not sufficiently thoughtful (in fact, the current program still cannot prevent viruses).
If this is the case, the Executive Yuan must perform its supervisory function and adjust personnel when necessary to prevent the loopholes in epidemic prevention from getting bigger and bigger.
News (4)
Local +16 Hou Youyi: Eight major industries and public places are completely closed
Editor : Zhuang Yating / Translation, editing : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA
Taiwan's covid epidemic broke out in series. The command center announced today (12 May) that 16 local cases have been added at one go. Among them, a total of 11 people have been diagnosed in the Luzhou Lions Club in New Taipei City. In response, New Taipei Mayor Hou Youyi announced today that all eight major venues will be temporarily closed from today, and the business venues will start to control the flow of people.
New Taipei City's new anti-epidemic measures include the activation of crowd control in business premises, the closure of eight special entertainment industries, Internet cafes, and electronic gaming venues, and the closure of the National Sports Center.
As for the closure of public places including cultural venues, libraries and event centers to improve epidemic prevention, New Taipei Mayor Hou Youyi announced the closure of the National Sports Center. In addition, the continuous control part includes the closure of family halls, the suspension of hair salon business and the suspension of restaurant businesses; the suspension of outdoor gatherings of more than 500 people and indoor gatherings of more than 100 people; the city government will continue to strengthen the inspection of eight specialties.
In the entertainment industry, business is suspended for unqualified reviews while those who wear masks in indoor gatherings and those who cannot maintain social distancing all the time wear masks. Eight risky venues persuade those who do not listen to penalties.
In addition, the frequency of disinfection of public transportation vehicles will be increased, and eating and drinking will be banned. Crowds in scenic areas are restricted to 1 person per 2 square metres. No one is allowed to visit patients in hospitals, nursing homes and residential long-term care institutions. Video visits are allowed but campuses in the city are temporarily closed to the public.
News (5) to (6) / Editor : Chen Yiling / Translation, editing : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA
News (5)
The epidemic may rise to Level 3 alert! "New Taipei City may be locked down" Hou Youyi: Just do it
The command center only announced yesterday (11 May) that it officially entered the second level of alert for the epidemic. Unexpectedly, Commander Chen Shizhong let go today (12 Mau), "the epidemic may enter the third level (alert)." If you come to the third level of alert, in accordance with the regulations, except for the necessary service places, all other business places will be closed, almost in a "half-closed city" state. In this regard, New Taipei Mayor Hou Youyi pointed out that when the outbreak of community infection cannot be controlled, the control measures deployed in advance such as lockdown should be done, and the lockdown should be carried out.
Chen Shizhong said frankly today that "the epidemic may enter the third level (alert)" and dropped a shock bomb. If the epidemic does reach the third stage, gatherings of more than 5 people indoors and more than 10 people outdoors will be suspended, and only for life support, order maintenance, essential services, medical and official needs, and other business and public places will be closed. Wear masks and social distancing are implemented in business and public areas.
News (6)
23 local in two days! If New Taipei City were locked down, step out only 3 times a week
Following the 7 local cases yesterday (11 May), 16 more cases surged today (12), making Commander Chen Shizhong let go before the press conference "The epidemic may enter The third level (alert)". New Taipei City Mayor Hou Youyi also said today that if the second level cannot be maintained, New Taipei City may be locked down. If the city is really locked down, the people will "be forbidden to go outside for 21 days" and only step out 3 times a week.
News (7)
Singapore Changi Airport exposed to B.1.617 infection
Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA
According to a report from the Ministry of Health of Singapore, on 11 May 2021, there were 13 new community cases in Singapore, of which 7 were related to the Changi Airport infectious group. There are currently 18 cases in this infectious group. These patients include airport cleaners, maintenance workers, security personnel, and relatives of airport staff, all of whom have close contact with T3. According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Health last night, four of the airport infection clusters were initially diagnosed with the B.1.617 variant virus from India, and further confirmation is needed.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore and Changi Airport Group announced that the second basement level of Changi Airport Terminal 3 (T3) is closed until further notice. Maritime and Port Authority and Port of Singapore Group will also increase the frequency of inspections for frontline dormitory passenger workers to strengthen epidemic prevention.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Health of Singapore, the investigation revealed that one case of a Victoria Junior College student was also related to the Changi Airport infection group and had visited the T3 terminal many times. The student visited Raffles Medical at Changi Airport T3 on 23 April, 30 April and 3 May, went to Kopitiam Food Court on the second basement level of T3 on 3 May. In this infectious group, 2 cases had visited this food court on the same day, so it is believed that she was infected at that time.
News (8)
The Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council threatened to "severely punish Wu Zhaoxie" Ministry of Foreign Affairs: It is ridiculous
Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA
The Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council named Foreign Minister Wu Zhaoxie as a "Taiwan independence diehard," and stated that CCP China will take all necessary measures to "severely punish and hold accountable for life in accordance with the law."
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated today that the statement made by the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council is absurd and ridiculous. It also highlights the humility and incapability of the Chinese Communist regime. The CCP government recently stated that "it has made proper arrangements for Taiwan's participation in global health affairs." Wu Zhaoxie retorted on Twitter that the Chinese Communist regime blatantly lied and CCP China has no right to represent democratic Taiwan internationally.
Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council of China, named Foreign Minister Wu Zhaoxie as a "Taiwan independence diehard" at a press conference today, and pointed out that the mainland China side "will take all necessary measures to severely punish and hold accountable for life in accordance with the law."
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in the afternoon that Taiwan, the Republic of China, is not only a sovereign and independent country, but also an advanced democracy and a good force. It is legitimate and natural to interact with other democratic and free countries in the international community.
The CCP government has no right to speak up. The CCP government lacks respect for and understanding of universal values, and uses authoritarian expansionism to try to impose CCP China's one-sided claims on other countries, causing regional tensions and conflicts.
In addition, the Copenhagen Democracy Summit invited President Tsai Ing-wen to give a video speech on the 10th.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying yesterday referred to the summit as a "political farce." The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also responded today and pointed out that the CCP government has not only failed to reflect on itself but falsely claimed that democracy is "full of ideological prejudice" and a "political farce", and sanctioned the "Democratic Alliance" that has hosted the Copenhagen Democracy Summit every year since 2018 ( Alliance of Democracies) and its founder and former NATO Secretary-General Rasmussen (Anders Fogh Rasmussen) caused an uproar in the international community and public opinion.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the CCP government’s war wolf diplomacy will not win resonance and respect, but will only arouse general disgust from the people of Taiwan, other democratic and free countries, and the international community.
This year, President Tsai once again delivered a speech at the Democracy Summit at the invitation of the "League of Democracy". In addition to highlighting Taiwan's high recognition of the "League of Democracy" for its outstanding contribution to uniting democratic countries and safeguarding global freedom and democracy, she also declared to the world the Taiwan government's and people's determination to uphold the values of freedom and democracy and will not succumb to China's pressure and bullying. (Central News Agency)
News (9)
Fear of being upgraded to level 3 alert! "5 Indoors, 10 Outdoors" gatherings are not allowed
Reporter : Huang Yingying / Translation, editing : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA
According to Chen Shizhong, the epidemic situation was not upgraded to Level 3 alert, because there are currently only two clusters, and there are no 10 cases of unknown infection source in a single day, but it does not rule out the possibility of escalation in the near future. Once the alert changes to Level 3, there are more than 5 people indoors and more than 10 outdoors. People gatherings have to stop, but work and office are not counted. In addition, non-essential business areas must also be closed.
However, the command centre emphasizes that strict measures will be taken for a certain area in accordance with the intensity of the epidemic. According to the epidemic alert standard, if the epidemic severity is upgraded to Level 3, you must wear masks all the time when you go out. If there are more than 10 people in outdoor activities and gatherings, all must be suspended and cancelled." The centre does not rule out that it may upgrade to Level 3 in the near future.
If there are more than 5 people in the room, the gathering must be suspended, but if it is a "corporate office", it will not be counted. Chen Shizhong, the commander of the command center: "The (yes) gathering does not mean that five people in the office are not allowed."
3 clusters in a week, or more than 10 cases of unknown infections a day requires three levels of security, operating in public places, and maintaining safe distancing while wearing masks, and only retains essential services for life, medical and official needs, and other places are closed, but how to maintain community operations is defined, the command centre explains, It will depend on the flexible control of the epidemic, which areas to take strict measures, and everything depends on the "epidemic intensity" to determine, but there have been 2 clusters, especially 3 new cases of unknown infection sources, why they are they still at level 2 alert.
Chen Shizhong, the command centre commander, said, "The (group) one was in Yilan, along with New Taipei. Today’s three individual cases are not a group, but an unknown source of infection."
Restaurants in department stores implement the joint system before meals, record the footprints, disinfect the public space once every 2 hours, and separate the dining area for one person in the food court, strengthen the implementation of epidemic prevention in advance.
Like in a department store, large-scale events have been suspended, but occasionally some small indoor events will be held from time to time. The industry first moves the venue to a fixed area. Although they are still under second-level alert, they are also inside.
Discuss whether to upgrade the indoor epidemic prevention.
The 16 local cases are undoubtedly the time when the epidemic is heating up, and it is imperative to respond to indoor and outdoor public spaces early.
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