Blood stocks in greater Taipei yesterday equaled only about a six-day supply, the Taipei Blood Center said, adding that stocks usually drop during the Lunar New Year holiday and it encourages people to donate blood before then.
The Taiwan Blood Services Foundation on Jan. 3 reported a critical shortage of blood in Taipei, saying that stocks of three blood groups had plummeted to less than a three-day supply, the lowest reserves in two decades.
It yesterday said that the level has increased to about six days.
Photo: CNA
The center and the Rotary Club of Taipei at a blood donation event at Warner Village Cinema in the city’s Xinyi District (信義) encouraged people to “roll up their sleeves” to help others.
Stocks in Taipei dropped to as low as about 2.6 days last week, because most of the medical centers are in greater Taipei, center Director Hung Cheng-sheng (洪正昇) said, adding that blood transfusions increased by about 35,700 bags last year, causing a critical shortage earlier this month.
The Lunar New Year holiday will be nine days in total, including two weekends, and blood supply usually drops during the holiday, so the center hopes to increase the stock to a safe level of at least 10 days of supply before the festive period, he said.
Daily blood demand nationwide is about 6,500 bags, but to ensure safe supply for the holiday, healthcare institutions hope to receive about 8,000 bags per day and a total of 160,000 bags until the holiday, Taiwan Blood Services Foundation public relations director Li Lei (黎蕾) said.
Red blood cells have a shelf life of about 35 days, and the second and third days of the Lunar New Year are expected to see the lowest stocks, so people should donate now, she said.
A NT$39 receipt for two bottles of tea at a FamilyMart was among the NT$10 million (US $312,969) special prize winners in the January-February uniform invoice lottery. FamilyMart said that two NT$10 million-winning receipts were issued at its stores, as well as two NT$2 million grand prizes and three NT$200,000 first prizes. The two NT$10 million receipts were issued at stores in Pingtung County and Yilan County’s Dongshan Township (冬山). One winner spent just NT$39 on two bottles of tea, while another spent NT$80 on water, tea and coffee, the company said. Meanwhile, 7-Eleven reported three NT$10 million winners — in New Taipei
Considering that most countries issue more than five denominations of banknotes, the central bank has decided to redesign all five denominations, the bank said as it prepares for the first major overhaul of the banknotes in more than 24 years. Central bank Governor Yang Chin-lung (楊金龍) is expected to report to the Legislative Yuan today on the bank’s operations and the redesign’s progress. The bank in a report sent to the legislature ahead of today’s meeting said it had commissioned a survey on the public’s preferences. Survey results showed that NT$100 and NT$1,000 banknotes are the most commonly used, while NT$200 and NT$2,000
ANNUAL EVENT: Two massive Pokemon balloons are to be set up in Daan Park, with an event zone operating from 10am to 6pm This year’s Taipei Floral Picnic is to be held at Daan Park today and tomorrow, featuring an exclusive Pokemon Go event, a themed food market, a coffee rave picnic area and stage performances, the Taipei Department of Information and Tourism said yesterday. Two massive Pokemon balloons are to be set up in the park as attractions, with an exclusive event zone operating from 10am to 6pm, it said. Participants who complete designated tasks on-site would have a chance to receive limited-edition souvenirs, it added. People could also try the newly launched game Pokemon Pokopia in the trial area, the department said. Three PokeStops are
Taiwan is concerned that China could exploit the US’ war in the Middle East, with state media citing examples from the conflict to cast doubt on the efficiency of US weapons Taiwan would use to repel an invasion. Taiwanese officials said the resumption of Beijing’s large-scale air force incursions near Taiwan after an unusual decline show that China wants to take advantage of the redeployment of US forces from East Asia to the Middle East. “This is a moment for China to exercise influence,” a senior Taiwanese security official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “What China is trying to create is a
RSS