Eye On Taiwan

COVID-19: Taiwan reports sixth death as number of cases hits 382 Posted: 10 Apr 2020 08:37 PM PDT Radio Taiwan International Date: 10 April, 2020 By: John Van Trieste Taiwan has so far recorded 382 cases of COVID-19, of which six have been fatal. Taiwan has reported its sixth death from COVID-19. It is also reporting two new cases of COVID-19, both of them imported. The new cases bring the total number Taiwan has recorded so far up to 382. Taiwan’s sixth COVID-19 death was a man in his 70’s who was infected while with a tour group in Egypt. He had suffered from diabetes and elevated levels of blood lipids.   [FULL  STORY]

WHO denies ignoring Taiwan’s early coronavirus warning after US criticism Posted: 10 Apr 2020 08:33 PM PDT Hong Kong Free Press Date: 11TH APRIL 2020 By: AFP The World Health Organisation on Friday denied having brushed off a Taiwanese warning on Donald Trump. File Photo: Flickr/Gage Skidmore. human-to-human transmission of the new coronavirus soon after its outbreak in China late last year. The US has accused the body of “putting politics first” by ignoring Taiwan’s warning in late December, and thus helping Beijing conceal the pandemic’s gravity. President Donald Trump has threatened to withhold funding for the WHO, which is at the forefront of fighting the pandemic that has infected more than 1.5 million people worldwide since emerging in Wuhan, China. The United States said Thursday it was “deeply disturbed that Taiwan’s information was withheld from the global health community, as reflected in the WHO’s January 14, 2020 statement that there was no indication of human-to-human transmission”.    [FULL  STORY]

Taiwanese fundraise for ads to refute WHO chief’s accusations Posted: 10 Apr 2020 08:26 PM PDT Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus' claim that Taiwanese are racist is 'world-class fake news,' say campaigners Taiwan News Date: 2020/04/10 By:  Taiwan News, Staff Writer Taiwan’s fundraising campaign counters WHO chief’s lies. (Zeczec photo) TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwanese are raising funds for a full-page advertisement in The New York Times newspaper to refute the World Health Organization (WHO) chief’s recent accusations against Taiwan. During a press conference at the United Nations health agency’s headquarters in Geneva on Wednesday (April 8), WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus took aim at Taiwan. He claimed to have received racist remarks and death threats, attributing the attacks to Taiwanese. “And Taiwan, the foreign ministry also, they know the campaign. They didn’t disassociate themselves. They even started criticizing me in the middle of all that insult and slur, but I didn’t care,” said Tedros, who had been asked to comment on U.S. President Donald Trump’s criticism of the organization. Tedros’ accusations spurred a public outcry on social media and drew protests from the Taiwan authorities. The fundraising campaign was started on Friday (April 10) in the hope of financing a full-page advertisement that will appear in The New York Times next Monday (April 13). [FULL  STORY]

CORONAVIRUS/Crowd management enforced at scenic and popular areas: CECC Posted: 10 Apr 2020 08:22 PM PDT Fcus Taiwan Date: 04/10/2020 By: Chen Ming-hsuan, Yu Hsiao-han, and William Yen One of Taiwan’s night markets / CNA photo used for illustrative purposes only Taipei, April 10 (CNA) Crowd measurement measures are to be introduced at scenic and popular areas around Taiwan starting Friday, in an effort to slow down the spread of the new coronavirus COVID-19 disease, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC). Night markets, traditional markets and shopping areas are required to enforce social distancing, and have only one point of entry, according to command center deputy Chen Tsung-yen (陳宗彥), at a daily CECC press conference. In addition, all free food samples must be canceled, while vendors and customers will be required to wear masks at all times, Chen said. "If a safe distance cannot be created between seated customers, then a partition board should be used," Chen said. "For the most popular vendors, markings should be displayed on the ground to ensure people keep a safe distance when lining up."    [FULL  STORY]

Virus Outbreak: Chinese issue fake apology for Taiwan Posted: 10 Apr 2020 08:18 PM PDT MISDIRECTION: Chinese social media users posing as Taiwanese have taken responsibility for racist attacks that the WHO’s head claimed originated in Taiwan Taipei Times Date:  Apr 11, 2020 By: Jason Pan / Staff reporter A tweet by @RFXZ_China — a Twitter account purportedly of a Chinese media outlet — asks followers to use a message above in traditional Chinese as a template to apologize to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on behalf of Taiwanese. Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau Chinese posing as Taiwanese have issued online apologies to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus for “personal attacks” and “racist abuse,” Taiwanese authorities said yesterday. Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau officials presented the findings at a media briefing to rebut accusations by Tedros, who on Wednesday accused Taiwan of engaging in personal attacks against him. Tedros said that he over the past three months received death threats and racist abuse, and claimed that it originated from Taiwan.Within hours of Tedros’ remarks, Twitter accounts traced to China began posting apologies to the WHO head on behalf of the Taiwanese public, which were then circulated on Chinese social media, amplifying their reach, Cyber Security Office head Chang Yu-jen (張尤仁) said.    [FULL  STORY]