Taiwan yet to meet lockdown criteria: Cabinet
05/21/2021 09:09 PM
CNA file photo
Taipei, May 21 (CNA) Facing rising public concerns over the possibility of a lockdown, or an upgrade of the national COVID-19 alert to the most serious Level 4, the Cabinet has given its assurance that Taiwan has not yet met the criteria to merit a lockdown.
Deputy Health Minister Hsueh Jui-yuan (薛瑞元) told the press after a weekly Cabinet meeting on Thursday that whether or not the alert will be raised from the current Level 3 to Level 4 depends on certain conditions and an official announcement by the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC), based on its judgement.
COVID-19: Zenan seeks food for the homeless
CUTS TO MENU: A worker for the charity said that his station in New Taipei City and others elsewhere do not have enough preservable food items for the next month
By Chen Hsin-hui, Jonathan Chin and Jake Chung / Staff reporter, with staff writers
The Zenan Homeless Social Welfare Foundation on Tuesday said that it is seeking donations of instant noodles, packaged condiments, canned food and instant beverages for homeless people.
The foundation has stopped providing ingredients to homeless people at its 23 locations across Taiwan due to the risk of community spread of COVID-19, said Chang Tzu-wen (張子文), who helps run a station the foundation has in New Taipei City.
Bills to bolster virus-hit economy pass reading
REMOTE ENCOUNTERS: In a ‘historic’ first, the legislature yesterday held a trial session using videoconferencing, with 36 legislators attending the mock meeting virtually
By Jason Pan / Staff reporter
Legislators yesterday passed the second reading of draft proposals to boost government spending for industries affected by the COVID-19 pandemic to NT$630 billion (US$22.55 billion).
The proposed amendments to the Special Act for Prevention, Relief and Revitalization Measures for Severe Pneumonia with Novel Pathogens (嚴重特殊傳染性肺炎防治及紓困振興特別條例) next proceed to the final phase of cross-party negotiations.
They are to be considered for a third reading on May 31, the final day of the current legislative session, Legislative Speaker You Si-kun (游錫堃) said.
COVID-19: Test results made available via app
EXPRESS APP: The service should help reduce stress, officials said, adding that people should refrain from entering public spaces for three days following a test
By Yang Yuan-ting and Jonathan Chin / Staff reporter, with staff writer
People can get COVID-19 rapid screening results via the National Health Insurance Express App, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said yesterday as it stressed the importance of not taking public transportation and staying away from public places within three days after being tested.
Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中), who heads the center, made the remarks at the CECC’s daily briefing.
Taiwan confirms 312 new domestic COVID-19 cases (update)
05/21/2021 09:25 PM
CNA file photo
Taipei, May 21 (CNA) Taiwan on Friday reported 315 new cases of COVID-19, of which 312 were confirmed as domestic infections, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).
The new cases included 144 in New Taipei, with 37 reported in Banqiao District; and 127 in Taipei, 60 of which were in Wanhua District, said Health Minister Chen Shih-chung (陳時中).
Thirteen cases were confirmed in Taoyuan, nine in Keelung, and five each in Taichung and Changhua, said Chen, who heads the CECC.
In addition, four cases were reported in Kaohsiung, two in Yilan, and one each in Pingtung, Nantou and Yunlin, he said.