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New COVID-19 wave in Taiwan exposes government’s lack of preparation
After more than a year of being held up as a model for its response to the global pandemic, Taiwan’s medical system is being overrun by a surge in COVID-19 cases. As of Thursday, there were 9,974 confirmed cases on the island, including 366 new cases the previous day. Nearly 9,000 of those infections have occurred since mid-May.
The Taipei Doctors’ Union warned in a Facebook post on May 27 that, “The coronavirus situation in the greater Taipei area continues to worsen, with an acute shortage of isolation beds and wards, as well as the [specialized] staff to run them.” It continued, “If this isn t breaking point for the healthcare system, then we don t know what is.” The statement warned that hospitals were facing a shortage of negative pressure and isolation wards, with general hospital wards being used instead, putting staff and other patients at risk of infection.
COVID-19: Unions call for direct aid payments to employees
By Jason Pan / Staff reporter
Labor union representatives yesterday called on the government to distribute COVID-19 relief funds directly to workers.
They asked the Ministry of Labor to take charge of the process, and not to go through industry associations or trade unions, as done in the past.
The government has raised the nationwide COVID-19 alert to level 3, which has led to commercial districts seeing few customers even on weekends.
A scooter rider pauses outside shuttered food vendors in Taipei’s historic Dadaocheng area yesterday.
Photo: Chien Jung-fong, Taipei Times
Shops and vendors have witnessed a steep drop in business, while many workers have seen their salaries reduced, which has affected their livelihoods, New Taipei Confederation of Trade Unions chairman Hung Ching-fu (洪清福) told an online briefing.