Taiwan's rising death toll from severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, has lost it its status on the WHO list of SARS-affected areas as one of "limited local transmission" and now shares the unenvied status of an "affected area," along with other SARS blackspots such as Hong Kong and Beijing.
The reclassification came in the WHO's report Thursday, on the international SARS epidemic.
The WHO defines an affected area as a region at the first administrative level where the country is reporting local transmission of SARS within the last 20 days.
Apart from Taiwan, Toronto, Beijing, Hong Kong, Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Tianjin, Mongolia's Ulan Bator and Singapore are also classified as affected areas.
The Cabinet, which is convening inter-ministerial meetings on fighting the epidemic on a daily basis, reported yesterday the death toll from SARS had risen to five with three more deaths from complications of the disease.
"These five cases died directly from SARS. On top of this, another three people have died of SARS-related diseases," said Lee Lung-teng (
Lee said although coronavirus has been found in samples from the other three cases, the people did not die directly from SARS.
As some taxi drivers and hairdressers have been suspected of being infected with the disease even though they have no contact history with SARS patients, Lee was asked whether community spread of the disease has taken place.
"We cannot answer this question because we are still not clear about their contact or travel histories," Lee said.
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), as of yesterday afternoon, probable SARS cases have risen to 100, with 25 people having been discharged from hospitals and five fatalities.
Suspected cases have increased to 97, with 45 having been discharged from hospitals. Reported SARS cases nationwide were 509, according to the CDC.
Lee said that around 200 reported cases came from Taipei Municipal Hoping Hospital and Jen Chi Hospital.
Lee also appealed to the public not to rush to buy N95 particulate surgical masks, which are now in short supply. The special surgical masks are designed to be used in a healthcare setting; it was not necessary for members of the public to wear such masks, he said.
Meanwhile, Johnnason Liu (
"However, even though they have been isolated in the hotel, they continued their reporting activities. The council has asked them to stop their reporting activities. If they do not, they will be deported, he said.
Also see stories:
Doctor fights on SARS frontline
Health official warns reporters not to take risks
Yulon offers aid, supplies for war against disease
Haitians panic over the arrival of ROC warship
Disease prevention bill passes
Alleged `superspreading' couple speak out
‘UNFRIENDLY’: Changing the nationality listing of Taiwanese residents to ‘China’ goes against EU foreign policy as well as democratic and human rights principles, MOFA said Taiwan yesterday called on Denmark to correct its designation of the nationality of Taiwanese residents as “China” or face retaliatory measures. The Danish government in 2024 changed the nationality of Taiwanese citizens on their residence permits from “Taiwan” to “China.” The decision goes against EU foreign policy and contravenes democratic and human rights principles, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) spokesman Hsiao Kuang-wei (蕭光偉) said. Denmark should present a solution acceptable to Taiwan as soon as possible and correct the erroneous designation to preserve the longstanding friendship between the two nations, Hsiao said. The issue could damage Denmark’s image and business reputation in Taiwan,
KEY INDUSTRY: The vice premier discussed a plan to create a non-red drone supply chain by next year, which has been allocated a budget of more than NT$7.2 billion The government has budgeted NT$44.2 billion (US$1.38 billion) to cultivate Taiwan’s uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) industry over the next five years, which would make the nation a major player in the industry’s democratic supply chain in the Asia-Pacific region, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said yesterday. Cho made the remarks during a visit to the facilities of Cub Elecparts Inc (為升電裝). Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Chen Su-yueh (陳素月) and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Hsieh Yi-fong (謝依鳳) also participated in the trip. Cub Elecparts has transitioned from the automotive industry to the defense industry, which is the top priority among the nation’s
SOUTH KOREA DISPUTE: If Seoul continues to ignore its request, Taiwan would change South Korea’s designation on its arrival cards, the foreign ministry said If South Korea does not reply appropriately to a request to correct Taiwan’s name on its e-Arrival card system before March 31, the government would take corresponding measures to change how South Korea is labeled on the online Taiwan Arrival Card system, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday. South Korea’s e-Arrival card system lists Taiwan as “China (Taiwan)” in the “point of departure” and “next destination” fields. Taipei has asked Seoul to change the wording. Since March 1, South Koreans who hold government-issued Alien Resident Certificates (ARC) have been identified as from “South Korea” rather than the “Republic of Korea,” the
SUFFICIENT: The president said Taiwan has enough oil for next month, with reserves covering more than 100 days and natural gas enough for 12 to 14 days A restart plan for the Guosheng Nuclear Power Plant in New Taipei City’s Wanli District (萬里) and the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant in Pingtung County’s Hengchun Township (恆春) would be submitted to the Nuclear Safety Commission by the end of the month, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday, reversing the government’s policy to abolish nuclear energy. On May 17 last year, Taiwan shut down its last nuclear reactor and became the first non-nuclear nation in East Asia, fulfilling the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government’s pledge of a “nuclear-free homeland.” Even without nuclear power, Taiwan can maintain a stable electricity supply until 2032,
RSS