Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) legislators yesterday urged the government to negotiate a reciprocal “vaccine passport” with other nations and to set clear standards for reopening after the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that preparations can be made early, even while the vaccination rate remains low.
The appeal came a day after the party caucus donated NT$1 million (US$35,644) of needles to remote medical centers to help their vaccination efforts.
Many nations have been proposing so-called “vaccine passports” as part of plans to reopen borders, and restart travel and the economy, TPP deputy caucus convener Ann Kao (高虹安) told a news conference.
Photo copied by Wu Shu-wei, Taipei Times
The EU on July 1 introduced the “EU Digital COVID Certificate,” issued to those inoculated with an approved vaccine, who have taken a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test or have recently recovered from COVID-19, she said.
Holders of the certificate can travel between EU nations without any restrictions or additional testing, she added.
Japan on Monday launched its own vaccine passport, enabling holders to enter Austria, Bulgaria, Italy, Poland and Turkey without quarantine or a PCR test, and Tokyo is pursuing additional partners, Kao said, adding that South Korea has agreed to waive quarantine requirements with certain documentation.
However, Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中) has said that Taiwan would not adopt a vaccine passport, as the vaccination rate is still relatively low and such programs are controversial, she said.
“No wonder people in other nations are more willing to get vaccinated than in Taiwan,” Kao said, asking why plans cannot be made for when the vaccination rate passes a certain threshold.
Although the COVID-19 alert has been lowered to level 2, many confusing and awkward regulations remain, TPP caucus convener Chiu Chen-yuan (邱臣遠) said.
An example is reopening water-based activities, but requiring masks to be worn at all times, Chiu said.
Masks need to be replaced if they get wet, “but how are people supposed to keep extra masks dry while out on the water?” he said.
He also questioned how dragon boat team members are meant to maintain social distancing.
Meanwhile, local governments have been left to decide whether to allow dine-in services, resulting in more confusion, especially as movement between different cities and counties is common, he added.
Chiu said that he believes the government has a long-term plan, adding that it should be announced as soon as possible.
If people knew the government’s goals, they could better adapt to the challenges and understand what they are striving for, he said.
Otherwise, people would be left anxiously waiting for the next delivery of vaccines or news of a further lifting of restrictions, he added.
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
Taiwan Travelogue (臺灣漫遊錄), which earlier this week became the first Taiwanese novel to win the International Booker Prize, is to be adapted into a television series through a Taiwan-Japan coproduction, producer Chang Chen-yu (張辰漁) said yesterday. Chang, a producer at World Softest Production Film Co, wrote on Facebook that the company had been searching for projects with international appeal that retain a strong Taiwanese identity after colleagues and Japanese partners strongly recommended the novel. After reading the book, Chang said he immediately decided to pursue the screen rights. “A great story has the power to transcend time and borders, and connect countless people,”
RSS