Taiwan unveils $7.5 billion relief package as Covid-19 cases rise
From CNN s Eric Cheung in Taipei, Taiwan
Chemical troops under the Taiwan Defense Ministry disinfect public transport in Taipei, Taiwan on on May 25 following a dramatic surge of Covid-19 cases. Ceng Shou Yi/NurPhoto/Getty Images
Taiwan plans to spend $7.55 billion on relief measures as it fights its worst Covid outbreak so far, the self-ruled island s National Development Council said Thursday.
The funds will go to subsidies for workers like taxi drivers and tour guides, as well as partial salary compensation for companies affected by ongoing restrictions.
The proposal, which will be discussed in the legislature by the end of the month, is the fourth round of Covid relief that Taiwan has announced since last year, with the first three rounds collectively worth $15 billion.
The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) yesterday reported 302 locally transmitted COVID-19 cases, 331 backlogged cases and 11 deaths, and announced that five restrictions are to be tightened nationwide during the extended level 3 warning period until June 14.
Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中), who heads the center, said that the new local cases are 158 males and 144 females aged from under five to over 90, and the onset of symptoms was between May 8 and Tuesday.
Most of those infected live in New Taipei City (152 cases) or Taipei (87 cases), he said, adding that 21 live
A surge in domestic COVID-19 cases in Taiwan after months of relative safety is intensifying pressure on the government to accept vaccines from China, as the island has vaccinated just 1 per cent of the population with no immediate sign of new shots
TAIPEI, May 24 (Reuters) - A surge in domestic COVID-19 cases in Taiwan after months of relative safety is intensifying pressure on the government to accept vaccines from China, as the island has vaccinated just 1% of the population with no immediate sign of new shots arriving.
The Chinese-claimed island and Beijing have repeatedly sparred over the pandemic since it began.
Taipei accuses Beijing of spreading fake news and preventing its full participation at the World Health Organization, while Beijing says Taipei is playing political games with its people s lives by refusing Chinese vaccines.
Taiwan has only received about 700,000 vaccine doses to date, all from AstraZeneca Plc, which are rapidly running out. It has millions more on order, including from Moderna Inc.