Vice President Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) yesterday joined online educational platform Hahow with a video about disease prevention, in which he shares his views on Taiwan’s experience containing COVID-19, what to do in face of the pandemic and future developments of the disease.
The 45-minute online course would be free and open to everyone, Chen wrote on Facebook, inviting the public to sign up.
The unique characteristic of COVID-19 is that it has no distinctive symptom and that its infectivity is strong, said Chen, an epidemiologist by training.
Photo grab from a video on Hahow’s Web site
Without vaccines, rapid test kits or related medication, it is imperative to quarantine all known cases, something Taiwan has done quite well, he said.
It is not necessary for Taiwan to conduct universal screening for the novel coronavirus, as Taiwan, unlike South Korea, has had relatively few confirmed infections, Chen said.
Taiwan’s screening ratio and coverage trails only those of the United Arab Emirates and Russia, demonstrating that its screening plan is appropriate, he said.
Chen called on the public not to judge people returning from areas hard-hit by COVID-19 or who have tested positive after being in close proximity to known cases.
“They needed to travel abroad or were exposed to family members; we should be understanding and have empathy,” he said.
No nation can face the danger posed by COVID-19 alone and the global community must band together, Chen said.
It is based on this idea that Taiwan has begun helping other nations, he said, quoting President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) slogan: “Taiwan can help, Taiwan is helping.”
As for future developments of the disease, Chen said that it would be difficult to eradicate the coronavirus from the world, but, like influenza, Taiwan would be equipped to deal with it.
For that to happen, vaccines, medication targeting the coronavirus and rapid test kits must be developed, he said.
Viable test kits could hit the market within three months, while drugs — after undergoing clinical trials — could be available within the next six months, Chen said, but added that vaccine development would perhaps need another year to a year and a half.
Until then, quarantine efforts are the best option to give Taiwan more time, he said.
Chen holds a doctorate in epidemiology and human genetics from Johns Hopkins University. He also served as vice president of Academia Sinica.
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
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday thanked Palau for its continued support of Taiwan's international participation, as Taipei was once again excluded from the World Health Assembly (WHA) currently taking place in Switzerland. "Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan" in the UN General Assembly, the WHO and other UN-affiliated agencies, Lai said during a bilateral meeting with visiting Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. "We have been profoundly touched by these endorsements," Lai said, praising the Pacific island nation's firm support as "courageous." Lai's remarks came as Taiwan was excluded for the ninth consecutive year from the WHA, which is being held in
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man
RSS