Chinese authorities barred access yesterday to villages outside Beijing where they reportedly have slaughtered thousands of cows to stop an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.
Police at roadblocks stopped outsiders from entering the villages northwest of the Chinese capital and the roads were wet with what appeared to be disinfectant. Foreign reporters who tried to visit the area were temporarily detained.
Health and agriculture officials have refused to confirm a report by Hong Kong's South China Morning Post newspaper that cows have been slaughtered in an attempt to stop an outbreak of foot-and-mouth.
Residents of the area, contacted by phone, confirmed that thousands of animals had been destroyed but said they didn't know why. The residents wouldn't give their names.
This month, China reported outbreaks of foot-and-mouth in the eastern cities of Taian and Wuxi but none near Beijing in the country's north.
The disease affects cows, sheep, goats and other cloven-footed animals, causing blisters on the mouth and feet. It isn't usually fatal, but authorities slaughter animals to stop its spread.
Reports of possible outbreaks are sensitive because they often prompt governments to ban meat imports from the affected country.
China slaughtered a total of 223 cows after the outbreaks in Taian and Wuxi, according to information provided to the World Organization for Animal Health.
The Post said 16 Chinese cattle imported to Hong Kong in March were found to have Asia 1 type foot-and-mouth disease -- the first time that type of the disease was found in Hong Kong.
REASSURING NUMBERS: Taiwan’s test capacity ranks sixth or seventh among 91 nations, and is not low compared with other nations, Chen Shih-chung said The quarantine period for foreigners visiting Taiwan for business would vary based on the COVID-19 situation of the nation or territory that they are coming from, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said yesterday, as it reported the 13th consecutive day of no new cases. Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中), who heads the center, told reporters at the center’s daily briefing that modified rules covering foreign business visitors had been completed and were ready for him to sign. The complete details of the new rules would be released later this week, he said. Foreigners on long business trips would have
Dignitaries from 47 countries yesterday congratulated President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) on the commencement of her second term and highlighted Taiwan’s achievements in democracy and its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo sent his congratulations a day earlier. As of noon yesterday, 263 high-ranking officials from 47 countries and global organizations had congratulated Tsai via statements, letters, social media posts or recorded footage, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, while releasing a collection of footage sent by selected dignitaries. The governments of Taiwan’s 15 diplomatic allies sent their congratulations, as did the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy,
IN PROTEST: The US’ top diplomat said the WHA had been deprived of Taiwan’s scientific expertise, while Tsai said political factors should not be put above health US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo on Monday condemned Taiwan’s exclusion from the World Health Assembly (WHA), while President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday lodged a strong protest against the WHO for not inviting Taiwan. Twenty-two nations voiced support for Taiwan’s bid for participation on the first day of the assembly’s two-day virtual meeting, but despite the global community’s unprecedentedly strong support for Taiwan, it remained blocked from the assembly, with WHO member states on Monday agreeing to delay discussion on Taiwan until later this year. Pompeo, who on May 6 urged WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to invite Taiwan to the WHA,
The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) yesterday announced no new cases of COVID-19, adding that a ban on mask exports would be lifted soon under three conditions. Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中), who heads the center, said that 401 people from among the nation’s 440 confirmed cases have been removed from isolation. Yesterday was the 12th consecutive day that no new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Taiwan, and the 37th day of no new domestic cases. “As our local communities have gradually become safe, we should not become careless,” Chen said. “We should continue to take personal protective measures
RSS