Radio Taiwan International
Date: 30 January, 2020
By: Jake Chen

Yushan Mountain in northern Taiwan. (CNA Photo)\[/caption] Low temperatures over the past few days have brought rare snowfall to several mountainous areas of Taiwan. Yushan, Taiwan’s highest mountain, has seen accumulation of up to 25 centimeters.

People driving down Provincial Highway 21 are being greeted with a rare sight – Taiwan’s highest mountain, Yushan, covered in snow. The beautiful scenery has sent tourists and nearby residents alike driving up to the mountain to take a look.    [FULL  STORY]

The Mainichi
Date: January 30, 2020

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, center, speaks at parliament on Jan. 30, 2020. (Kyodo)

TOKYO (Kyodo) — Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Thursday that Taiwan's participation in the World Health Organization is necessary to effectively fight the spread of a new coronavirus.

"It will be difficult to maintain health and prevent further infections in this region if (Taiwan) is excluded for political reasons," Abe said during a parliamentary session. "We will continue to make our country's stance clear at the WHO."

China regards Taiwan as a renegade province to be brought under its control, by force if necessary, and objects to the self-governing island's participation in the WHO and other international organizations as a different entity.

Abe made the remarks after an opposition party lawmaker said Taiwan was not allowed to participate in an emergency WHO meeting on the outbreak of the deadly virus in Geneva on Jan. 22.
[FULL  STORY]

Popular BBQ restaurant franchise in Taichung implements new rule to prevent spread of Wuhan coronavirus

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/01/30
By: Ching-Tse Cheng, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Well-known Taiwanese restaurant chain Umai announced Thursday (Jan. 30) that it would no longer provide service at any of its locations to customers who have recently traveled to China.

Beloved by young Taiwanese, the Taichung-based BBQ franchise posted on its Facebook page that the management team has decided to suspend services to all customers with a recent history of travel to China. The restaurant said that the change was meant to prevent the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) from spreading.

Following its announcement last Thursday (Jan. 23) that all Umai employees would begin wearing face masks at work, the popular BBQ restaurant said that customers who had experienced fever, coughing, diarrhea, or sore throats recently were not permitted to enter its stores. The post has since attracted comments from Taiwanese netizens praising the restaurant chain for its cautious approach to the viral outbreak, reported UDN.

Founded in 2008, Umai has conquered the taste buds of many Taiwanese. Known as the restaurant most difficult to get reservations, the Taichung franchise shows off its Japanese origins with a wide variety of items on the menu, including Japanese short ribs, chicken soup, Argentine red shrimp, and Wagyu beef.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 01/30/2020
By: Wen Kuei-hsiang, Yeh Su-ping and Chiang Yi-ching

Taipei, Jan. 30 (CNA) In the wake of recent reports of face mask shortages at convenience stores in Taiwan, Vice President Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁), an epidemiologist by training, said Thursday that for the average person, wearing a surgical face mask is not entirely necessary to prevent contracting the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).

For people with no symptoms of an upper respiratory infection and fever, whether a mask is necessary depends on how likely they are to be exposed to the virus, which in Taiwan can be divided into three scenarios, Chen told reporters.

The first is in patients who have tested positive for the virus, Chen said, adding that as these individuals have been isolated in hospitals, they can no longer spread the virus to others.

The virus can also be passed on by those who have contracted it but not yet displayed any symptoms, Chen said.    [FULL  STORY]

LACK OF TRANSPARENCY: Labor and equality groups said the director has held anti-homosexual views and was nominated without promised transparency

Taipei Times
Date: Jan 31, 2020
By: Shen Pei-yao, Kuo An-chia and Jake Chung  /  Staff reporters, with staff writer

Unions and gender equality groups yesterday rallied in front of Taipei City Hall to protest the

appointment of Chen Hsin-yu (陳信瑜) as director of the Taipei Department of Labor, citing concern about Chen’s purported stance against homosexuality.

Chen, a former Kaohsiung City councilor for the Democratic Progressive Party, is scheduled to take office today.

Chen has been known for her opposition to education materials that teach about same-sex relationships and while it would be detrimental to judge her solely on past remarks, less than one month ago she said she did not regret that decision, Marriage Equality Platform convener Jennifer Lu (呂欣潔) said.

Appointing this kind of person to a position related to gender equality affairs is troubling, Lu said.
[FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 29 January, 2020
By: Jake Chen

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) will use mobile phones to ensure that potential virus carriers exercise proper quarantine measures.

CDC Deputy Director General Chuang Jen-hsiang said Wednesday that the 460 people who have come into contact with the eight local coronavirus patients will receive a mobile phone. Chuang said that the phones came with a messaging app that allows the CDC to check-in with these at-risk individuals daily. The goal is to make sure that these individuals stay at home and quarantine themselves from others.    [FULL  STORY]

Taiwanese made donations to a Turkish NGO that sent a rescue team to the island after disastrous 1999 earthquake

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/01/29
By:  Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s donations to a Turkish disaster rescue organization after a magnitude 6.8 earthquake shook Turkey last week evoke the friendship established between the peoples of the two countries two decades ago.

The earthquake, which struck the eastern Turkish province of Elazig last Friday (Jan. 24), killed 41 people and injured more than 1,600, according to the country’s disaster relief agency. The AKUT Association, a non-governmental organization that conducts search-and-rescue operations during disasters, mobilized 126 volunteers and four dogs after the quake, rescuing eight people and discovering three bodies.

The association was reportedly amazed to have received a large number of donations from Taiwan after the quake as well as messages from Taiwanese on social media. Taiwan was the next largest source of donations after Turkey, said AKUT Secretary-General Zeynep Aktosun, expressing her appreciation for the Taiwanese people.

Aktosun noted that some Taiwanese had even translated the donation information from Turkish into Chinese so that others could donate more easily. Donations are very important for the organization, but the messages from Taiwan have offered even more encouragement to the team, said Aktosun, adding that some volunteers were moved to tears after reading them.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 01/29/2020
By: Sabine Cheng and Ko Lin

Taipei, Jan. 29 (CNA) The annual Taipei International Comics and Animation Festival will go ahead this week as scheduled, despite escalating fears over the spread of a new coronavirus that originated in China, the organizer said Wednesday.

Kao Shih-chuang (高世樁), who is secretary-general of the Chinese Animation & Comic Publishers Association, urged visitors to practice proper hygiene by wearing a surgical face mask at the event, adding that alcohol dispensers will be placed at the showground's entrances and exits for public use.

Meanwhile, exhibitors as well as members of the show staff have also been instructed to wear face masks at all times during exhibiting hours, Kao said.

The comic book fair, featuring notable artists from both Taiwan and abroad, will be held at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center from Friday through Feb. 4.    [FULL  STORY]

RESPONSE MEASURES: Many publishers have expressed concern over a coronavirus outbreak, while authors asked if they would need to wear a mask while giving speeches

Taipei Times
Date: Jan 30, 2020
By: Lee I-chia  /  Staff reporter, with CNA

The Ministry of Culture yesterday said that it would discuss delaying the Taipei International Book

Exhibition as a coronavirus infection spreads from China.

The ministry, which organizes the event, called an emergency meeting with executive co-organizer the Taipei Book Fair Foundation and representatives from attending publishers to discuss the issue.

It said it would announce a decision as soon as possible, following consultations with the foundation and publishers.

This year’s edition of the annual exhibition is due to be held at Taipei World Trade Center Exhibition Hall 1 from Tuesday to Sunday next week.    [FULL  STORY]