As the nation is confronted by the challenge of containing further outbreaks of severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, legislators with medical backgrounds yesterday offered the advice that frequently washing one's hands is the best protection against the disease.
"Washing hands is the best prevention to avoid contracting the SARS virus. The measure is even more important than wearing gauze masks since medical experts found that SARS was not an airborne epidemic," said Legislator Peter Lin (
Lin, who holds a masters degree in epidemiology, advised that compared to a gauze mask, wearing gloves would better protect a healthy body against contracting the disease indirectly.
"Indirect transmission usually affects healthy people when they touch the virus in SARS patients' bodily fluids left in public places. Therefore, wearing gloves should be the best protection when it comes to cutting the risk of contracting SARS," he explained.
Lin, in addition, called on the government to see that the all-out prevention measures against the mysterious epidemic as a chance to enhance the nation's public hygiene education.
"The numerous SARS reports by local media endeavored to update the latest developments of the infection. Few of them have done a good job of teaching the public on how to protect themselves from being infected, as well as giving instructions on the fundamental measures for halting the disease's spread," he argued.
PFP Legislator Kao Ming-chien (
Instead of wearing the gauze masks, Kao said, intensified washing of hands, feet and the mouth should be emphasized.
The washing will protect frail eyes and the nasal cavity in case a healthy person touched the SARS virus left by infected persons on handrails or chairs at public places, he explained.
Wearing a gauze mask is advised for an all-out prevention effort when healthy citizens approach areas where cases of infection have been confirmed, he added.
Kao advised citizens to avoid unneeded visits to public places, especially those with poor ventilation, while suspected cases of the disease continues to rise.
"Crowded public places without good ventilation could be danger areas for spreading SARS. In this case, it is advisable to avoid these places when the nation is facing the threat of further outbreaks," Kao said.
The former medical director said that the chances of catching the disease at the Legislative Yuan would likely be much lower than the chances in an air-conditioned compound or business building.
DPP Legislator Chen Chi-mai (
"Prevention measures need to achieve a balance between warning against spreading of the disease and engendering emotional fears.
"The mass infection at Hoping Hospital revealed that the administration had not successfully contained the epidemic situation.
"The protest staged by the hospital staff exposed the problem that the legal regulation relating to epidemic prevention must be reinforced for the sake of attaining control," Chen said.
Yangmingshan National Park authorities yesterday urged visitors to respect public spaces and obey the law after a couple was caught on a camera livestream having sex at the park’s Qingtiangang (擎天崗) earlier in the day. The Shilin Police Precinct in Taipei said it has identified a suspect and his vehicle registration number, and would summon him for questioning. The case would be handled in accordance with public indecency charges, it added. The couple entered the park at about 11pm on Thursday and began fooling around by 1am yesterday, the police said, adding that the two were unaware of the park’s all-day live
A former soldier and an active-duty army officer were yesterday indicted for allegedly selling classified military training materials to a Chinese intelligence operative for a total of NT$79,440. The Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office indicted Chen Tai-yin (陳泰尹) and Lee Chun-ta (李俊達) for contravening the National Security Act (國家安全法) and the Anti-Corruption Act (貪污治罪條例). Chen left the military in September 2013 after serving alongside then-staff sergeant Lee, now an army lieutenant, at the 21st Artillery Command of the army’s Sixth Corps from 2011 to 2013, according to the indictment. Chen met a Chinese intelligence operative identified as “Wang” (王) through a friend in November
Minister of Digital Affairs Lin Yi-ching (林宜敬) yesterday cited regulatory issues and national security concerns as an expert said that Taiwan is among the few Asian regions without Starlink. Lin made the remarks on Facebook after funP Innovation Group chief executive officer Nathan Chiu (邱繼弘) on Friday said Taiwan and four other countries in Asia — China, North Korea, Afghanistan and Syria — have no access to Starlink. Starlink has become available in 166 countries worldwide, including Ukraine, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam, in the six years since it became commercial, he said. While China and North Korea block Starlink, Syria is not
The Grand Hotel Taipei has rejected media reports claiming that the hotel had prevented CBS from broadcasting coverage of the Beijing summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) on its premises. Media reports alleging that the hotel owner, dissatisfied with CBS’s coverage, prohibited the network from broadcasting political content on the hotel premises, are not true, the hotel said in a statement issued last night. The reports were “inconsistent with how the hotel actually handled the matter,” it said. The hotel said it received a refund request from a
RSS