Focus Taiwan
Date: 02/06/2020
By: Chen Wei-ting, Chen Ching-fang and Matthew Mazzetta

Taipei, Feb. 6 (CNA) Health and Welfare Minister Chen Shih-chung (陳時中) said Thursday that the Taiwan government has asked the American drugmaker Gilead Sciences to reserve doses of its experimental drug Remdesivir for potential use in Taiwan, amid reports that the antiviral medication may be effective in treating the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).

At a press conference, Chen confirmed the request to Gilead, while noting that the drug — which is not yet licensed or approved anywhere globally — needs government approval before it can be used.

Originally developed for use against the Ebola virus, Remdesivir has been widely discussed in recent days as a possible coronavirus treatment, following positive results from Chinese and American doctors who have administered the drug experimentally.

On Jan. 31, Gilead said in a statement that it was working with the Chinese authorities to conduct a clinical trial involving the use of Remdesivir on coronavirus patients.    [FULL  STORY]

DIGGING UP THE PAST: Researchers carried out test excavations at two Anping elementary schools in an effort to understand how the area looked 400 years ago

Taipei Times
Date: Feb 07, 2020
By: Staff writer, with CNA

A brick structure believed to date to the Qing Dynasty has been discovered inside the campus of

an elementary school in Tainan’s Anping District (安平).

In June last year, the Tainan City Government and National Cheng Kung University jointly launch a project for research and education on Fort Zeelandia, also known as Anping Old Fort (安平古堡), as well as an ancient town inside the district.

By referencing historical materials and using topographical and archeological methods, researchers sought to understand what the city was like during its seafaring past.

Researchers carried out test excavations at Shihmen Elementary School and Anping Sword Lion Square (安平劍獅埕), an unnamed Tainan Municipal Administration of Cultural Heritage official said.
[FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 05 February, 2020
By: Jake Chen

The education ministry is calling on students and teachers to take advantage of online learning platforms during the extended winter break.

The ministry announced on Monday that the start of winter semester for all elementary and high schools will be delayed for two weeks in an effort to minimize the spread of the coronavirus outbreak.    [FULL  STORY]

Drawing lessons from SARS, Taiwan has acted quickly in response to the new virus outbreak

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/02/05
By: Huang Tzu-ti, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan has managed to coordinate a quick and effective response to the coronavirus outbreak thanks to experience gained from SARS as well as three major decisions, according to a report by Mirror Media.

The island country initiated the first response mechanism on Dec. 31, when China reported 27 mysterious pneumonia cases in Wuhan to the WHO. From that day on, all passengers on direct flights from the Chinese city were subject to onboard screening and a health-condition declaration.

These border control measures have been hailed as key to preventing the virus from further spreading into Taiwan. It was not until Jan. 21 that the island reported its first case, a businesswoman from Wuhan who was directly transported to the hospital upon arrival.

The second crucial move was made on Jan. 15, when the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) officially declared the pneumonia from Wuhan a Category 5 notifiable disease, according to the report. This makes it mandatory, in the event of a possible outbreak, to report cases of potential illness to the authorities for better monitoring and early intervention .    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 02/05/2020
By: Yu Hsiao-han, Cheng Chi-feng, and Joseph Yeh

Taipei, Feb. 5 (CNA) No Taiwanese are among the 10 people on board a cruise ship quarantined in Yokohama harbor who have tested positive for the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), according to the cruise line operator Wednesday.

The 10 people who tested positive include nine passengers — two Australians, three Japanese, three from Hong Kong, and one American — and one Filipino crewmember, following the first phase health screening conducted by Japanese health authorities on all 3,700 passengers and crew on the Diamond Princess, according to a Princess Cruises statement.

"These 10 persons, who have been notified, will be taken ashore by Japanese Coast Guard watercraft and transported to local hospitals for care by shoreside Japanese medical professionals," the statement said.

The cruise liner added that the ship will remain under quarantine in Yokohama for at least 14 days as required by the Japanese Ministry of Health.    [FULL  STORY]

LOW PROFILE: The mayor reportedly plans to focus on governing Kaohsiung, while his team aims to carefully manage his public comments during the recall campaign

Taipei Times
Date: Feb 06, 2020
By: Sherry Hsiao  /  Staff reporter

Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-yu’s (韓國瑜) administration plans to reshuffle its ranks to fend off a

campaign to recall him, the Chinese-language Mirror Media magazine reported on Tuesday.

The restructuring began before the Lunar New Year holiday, with Cheng Chao-hsin (鄭照新), special assistant to Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Johnny Jiang (江啟臣), joining as director-general of the Kaohsiung Information Bureau, while former KMT legislator Lin Li-chan (林麗蟬) was invited to serve as an adviser to the city government, the report said.

Anne Wang (王淺秋) and Peter Pan (潘恒旭), who previously headed the Information Bureau and the Tourism Bureau respectively, would not return to the team, the report said, adding that the administration hopes to reshape its image.

Meanwhile, Han intends to maintain a low profile during the recall campaign by focusing on governance and avoiding speaking about politics, the report said.    [FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 04 February, 2020
By: Natalie Tso

The government is going to start rationing the purchase of face masks. That’s due to public anxiety over the novel coronavirus and a public frenzy over buying surgical masks.

Beginning Thursday, surgical face masks will be available for purchase at over 6000 drug stores that are affiliated with the national health insurance. Every citizen can purchase 2 per week at a price of NT$5 by showing their health insurance card.    [FULL  STORY]

Taiwanese man suffers electrocution burns to 36% of his body after climbing on to TRA train roof

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/02/04
By: Keoni Everington, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A 21-year-old man suffered severe burns inflicted by a massive surge of electricity after he climbed on top of a train roof in western Taiwan on Monday (Feb. 3).

At 1:20 p.m. on Monday afternoon, a female passenger on the No. 2190 Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) complained of a man who was harassing her in Carriage No. 5. When the train conductor arrived on the scene, the man initially tried to attack him before seeming to calm down, reported SET News.

When the train arrived at Wuri Station in Taichung, the man suddenly ran out onto the platform and climbed up to the top of carriage No. 7. His body quickly drew 25,000 volts of electricity from overhead power lines causing his clothing to burst into flames.

As the smoke began to spew from the man's clothing, he could be heard wailing in pain. He then tore off his trousers in an effort to alleviate the pain and soon leaped off the train.
[FULL  STORY]