One of every three SARS cases contracted in hospitals is a health-care worker, DPP Legislator Chou Ching-yu (
Chou, legislators and medical-association representatives convened a news conference to call attention to the lack of quality and availability of protective gear for medical staff.
The nation has seen 52 people die from SARS, including two doctors and four nurses.
Chou said health-care workers have a higher ratio of SARS infection than do members of the public, citing the example of Taipei Municipal Hoping Hospital. Hoping Hospital, the first hospital sealed off due to an outbreak of SARS within the facility, has reported 117 probable cases. Of these 41, or 33 percent, are health-care workers and their friends or relatives.
In Jenchi Hospital, which was shut down shortly after Hoping, 11 medical-care workers account for 21 probable SARS cases in the facility.
Chou said that the ratio of medical staff contracting SARS is too high, adding they are risking their lives at their posts and that the government should pay attention to their work environment.
She suggested the government instruct those who are entering or leaving hospitals to wear surgical masks, adding that it would reduce the risk of infection.
Chin Tseng Cheng-li (靳曾珍麗), a nurses' representative, said taking care of SARS patients requires a lot of stamina and that nurses have to wear three layers of protective gear during their eight-hour shifts.
Chin said this amounts to a form of torture and suggested shifts be cut to four hours.
Taiwan Medical Association Secretary-General Lin Mao-Chuan (
Trips for more than 100,000 international and domestic air travelers could be disrupted as China launches a military exercise around Taiwan today, Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) said yesterday. The exercise could affect nearly 900 flights scheduled to enter the Taipei Flight Information Region (FIR) during the exercise window, it added. A notice issued by the Chinese Civil Aviation Administration showed there would be seven temporary zones around the Taiwan Strait which would be used for live-fire exercises, lasting from 8am to 6pm today. All aircraft are prohibited from entering during exercise, it says. Taipei FIR has 14 international air routes and
The Ministry of National Defense (MND) today released images of the military tracking China’s People's Liberation Army (PLA) movements during the latest round of Chinese drills around Taiwan. The PLA began "Justice Mission 2025" drills today, carrying out live-fire drills, simulated strikes on land and maritime targets, and exercises to blockade the nation's main ports. The exercises are to continue tomorrow, with the PLA announcing sea and air space restrictions for five zones around Taiwan for 10 hours starting from 8:30am. The ministry today released images showing a Chinese J-16 fighter jet tracked by a F-16V Block 20 jet and the
Snow fell on Yushan (Jade Mountain, 玉山) yesterday morning as a continental cold air mass sent temperatures below freezing on Taiwan’s tallest peak, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Snowflakes were seen on Yushan’s north peak from 6:28am to 6:38am, but they did not fully cover the ground and no accumulation was recorded, the CWA said. As of 7:42am, the lowest temperature recorded across Taiwan was minus-5.5°C at Yushan’s Fengkou observatory and minus-4.7°C at the Yushan observatory, CWA data showed. On Hehuanshan (合歡山) in Nantou County, a low of 1.3°C was recorded at 6:39pm, when ice pellets fell at Songsyue Lodge (松雪樓), a
NO SHAME IN RETREAT: Hikers should consider turning back if the weather turns bad or if they do not have sufficient equipment, the Taroko park headquarters said Two people died of hypothermia over the weekend while hiking on Hsuehshan (雪山), prompting park authorities to remind hikers to bring proper equipment and consider their physical condition before setting out in the cold weather. Temperatures dropped over the weekend, bringing snow to high altitudes in Shei-pa National Park. One hiker, surnamed Lin (林), who on Friday was traveling with a group of six along the Hsuehshan west ridge trail, lost consciousness due to hypothermia and died, the Shei-pa National Park Headquarters said. On Saturday, another hiker, surnamed Tien (田), in a group of five on the southeast of the west
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