The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday it was considering easing screening for swine flu now that the spread of the epidemic seemed to be slowing down.
“We will discuss whether passengers who sat more than six rows away from a confirmed swine flu patient on a flight should be tested,” CDC spokesman Shih Wen-yi (施文儀) said.
“The virus is not as virulent as we expected. Now that the spread of the epidemic is slowing down, we are considering easing precautionary measures so that only those who sit within six rows of a confirmed patient are tested,” he said.
At press time yesterday, the CDC still required all passengers who shared a flight with a confirmed swine flu patient to be tested, no matter what seat they were in.
The Infectious Disease Society of Taiwan yesterday issued a statement along the same lines, but urged the CDC to prepare long-term anti-epidemic measures to combat the spread of viruses like the A(H1N1) swine flu strain.
The CDC yesterday completed tests on seven passengers who had been on the same flight as Hong Kong’s second confirmed swine flu patient on Monday. The results proved negative.
In related news, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday issued a yellow travel alert for Belgium, bringing to 29 the number of countries and areas that Taiwan has tagged with a yellow advisory since the start of the swine flu outbreak.
“In light of Belgium’s confirmation of its first human infection of swine flu, the ministry has issued a yellow travel alert for that country and is advising citizens to take health precautions,” the ministry’s Bureau of Consular Affairs said in a press release.
The ministry on Tuesday downgraded its travel advisory from red to orange for Mexico — the center of the worldwide outbreak — after the CDC lowered its disease level for the North American country.
Mexico remains the only country for which the ministry has issued an orange travel alert because of swine flu.
Hong Kong singer Eason Chan’s (陳奕迅) concerts in Kaohsiung this weekend have been postponed after he was diagnosed with Covid-19 this morning, the organizer said today. Chan’s “FEAR and DREAMS” concert which was scheduled to be held in the coming three days at the Kaohsiung Arena would be rescheduled to May 29, 30 and 31, while the three shows scheduled over the next weekend, from May 23 to 25, would be held as usual, Universal Music said in a statement. Ticket holders can apply for a full refund or attend the postponed concerts with the same seating, the organizer said. Refund arrangements would
Taiwanese indie band Sunset Rollercoaster and South Korean outfit Hyukoh collectively received the most nominations at this year’s Golden Melody Awards, earning a total of seven nods from the jury on Wednesday. The bands collaborated on their 2024 album AAA, which received nominations for best band, best album producer, best album design and best vocal album recording. “Young Man,” a single from the album, earned nominations for song of the year and best music video, while another track, “Antenna,” also received a best music video nomination. Late Hong Kong-American singer Khalil Fong (方大同) was named the jury award winner for his 2024 album
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) on Friday laid out the Cabinet’s updated policy agenda and recapped the government’s achievements ahead of the one-year anniversary of President William Lai’s (賴清德) inauguration. Cho said the government had made progress across a range of areas, including rebuilding Hualien, cracking down on fraud, improving pedestrian safety and promoting economic growth. “I hope the public will not have the impression that the Cabinet only asked the legislature to reconsider a bunch of legal amendments,” Cho said, calling the moves “necessary” to protect constitutional governance and the public’s interest. The Cabinet would work toward achieving its “1+7” plan, he said. The
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