COVID-19 pandemic 結果共57筆

Taiwan’s foreign investment landscape has undergone a significant shift, with investments in Southeast Asia surpassing those in mainland China for the first time in 30 years. From January to October this year, Taiwan invested US＄4.96 billion in Southeast Asia compared to US＄2.63 billion in China. The total number of approved foreign investments during the same period decreased by 8.18%, totaling 1,864 investments. The total investment amount was US＄8.39 billion, marking a 27.35% decrease compared to the previous year. Jiangsu Province emerged as the main beneficiary of Taiwan’s investments in mainland China this year. The changes in Taiwanese investment behavior can be attributed to shifts in global supply chains caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the China-U.S. trade war. Notably, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), Foxconn, and Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation played a significant role in foreign investment, with TSMC investing US＄8 billion in U.S. companies and €3.5 billion in German firms, while Foxconn and Yang Ming Marine each injected US＄800 million into Singaporean businesses. This year marks the first time in three decades that investment in Southeast Asia has exceeded that in mainland China.

The number of Japanese tourists visiting Taiwan has only recovered to 33% of pre-pandemic levels in the first half of 2023. One reason for this is the depreciation of the Japanese yen, but the major concern is the growing cross-strait tensions. The instability in the Taiwan Strait has created unease among Japanese tourists. Maintaining stability and peace in the Taiwan Strait is a key task for the new line-up of top government leaders. Another contributing factor to Japan’s decreased tourism in Taiwan is the rising interest in South Korea, including its Korean pop culture, local delicacies, casinos, and cosmetic surgery services, despite its more expensive cost to visit after the pandemic.

The National Health Insurance Committee will discuss using non-anticipated risk funds and the insurance reserve fund in Taiwan on November 15, according to the National Health Insurance Administration Director-General. The insurance premium rate is expected to remain unchanged in 2024. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on all sectors, including traditional Chinese medicine, which reported increased medical expenses in the first two quarters of 2023. Western medicine also experienced a drop in the second quarter. The insurance reserve fund is projected to reach 1.97 months by the end of 2023, higher than the previous estimate of 1.5 months, largely due to a government budget allocation of NT＄24 billion.

Taiwan’s Health and Welfare Minister, Hsueh Jui-yuan, has announced the launch of a telemedicine project next week to meet the growing demand for virtual diagnosis and long-distance clinical services. The telehealth initiative, set to debut in April next year, will not only cover acute and long-term care but also extend to chronic treatments, serious accidents, infectious cases, and care for people with disabilities. The National Health Insurance Administration estimates that over seven million people will benefit from these telehealth reforms. However, concerns have been raised by Legislator Lai Hui-yuan regarding the overdue project and the NHIA’s plans to boost digital health in Taiwan. The NHIA Department of Medical Affairs Director, Liu Lin-yi, responded by stating that telemedicine services became accessible to general patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, with 460 thousand patients receiving diagnoses through video calls. To ensure a smooth digital transition, MOHW Health Division Chief Liu Yueh-Ping emphasized the need for standards and the completion of necessary setups within six months.

The Travel Agents Association Chairman, Hsiao Po-jen, has announced that the Taiwanese government may lift travel group bans to China before Chinese New Year in 2024. Minister Wang Kwo-tsai of Transportation and Communications and Mainland Affairs Council revealed that the MOTC Tourist Administration Director General, Chou Yung-Hui, confirmed plans to lift restrictions on Taiwanese travel groups just before the holiday next year. The ban on private arrangement of group tours to China has been in place since the Covid-19 pandemic, making this decision a significant move to enhance diplomatic relations between the two states. The MAC has also announced plans to restore cross-strait group tours, initially allowing 2,000 visitors per day from China. The lift on travel restrictions may come earlier than expected if China expresses goodwill to welcome tourists from across the Strait.

An animal rescue shelter in Hualien County, Taiwan, is adjusting its opening hours starting from November 1 to increase pet adoption rates. The Hualien County’s Agriculture Development Department announced that they will reopen applications for residents to schedule adoption appointments. The new adoption hours will be from Tuesday to Saturday, with sessions available from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The shelter, located in Fenglin township, covers 0.88 hectares and can accommodate 330 dogs and 20 cats, significantly expanding the capacity compared to another shelter in Hualien. The shelter will be closed every Sunday and Monday for park organization, medical treatment, and animal disinfection. For more information on making appointments and adoptions, the public can contact the shelter at 03-8421452.

Amidst a worsening nursing shortage exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, Taiwan’s Union of Nurses Association (TUNA) calls on the government for increased financial support and staffing solutions. They propose allowing male nurses to fulfill their military conscription in hospitals and recommend a monthly subsidy for all nursing staff.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) Founder Morris Chang took to the stage on Saturday (Oct. 14) to warn of increased competition in the semiconductor industry in the upcoming years. Speaking at the company’s ＂Sports Day,＂ which resumed after a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Chang emphasized that TSMC remains a ＂battleground for the world’s geopolitical strategists.＂ ＂The competitive environment for TSMC in the years to come will not become any easier,＂ the 92-year-old founder said.

Taiwanese seeking opportunities in China face growing challenges, leading some to repatriate while others opt to stay. These challenges stemmed from the U.S.-China trade war, the COVID-19 pandemic, and China’s economic downturn.

Taiwan’s car market continues to thrive, with the value of imported cars reaching a record high of NT$85 billion from January to April this year, a 54% increase compared to the previous year, according to the Ministry of Finance.

Despite the newly relaxed regulations, many passengers on public transport systems were still hesitant to take their masks off on Monday (April 17), more than three years after mask mandates were put in place.

Following the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on March 8, former U.S. National Security Council (NSC) official Jamie Metzl sat down with TVBS commentator Wenchi Yu to talk about the possible origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, and how understanding its origins could determine global health and safety in the future.

Organ donation registrations in Taiwan have significantly declined amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Cardinal Tien Hospital Chief Surgeon Chen Tzu-hung.

Taiwan has implemented various measures to curb the spread of the pandemic, and with the infection rate becoming more stable, the country is set to relax restrictions. 

With foreign travelers arriving in Taiwan ahead of the Chinese New Year holiday, many people are choosing to get revaccinated

The pandemic is gradually stabilizing in Taiwan. According to doctors, however, many COVID patients have lasting symptoms, such as frequent insomnia and an abnormal sense of smell and taste. Doctors are urging high-risk groups, such as elders over 65, to get vaccinated.

Taiwan is seeing a rise in severe flu cases this year as the pandemic subsides and mask mandates are eased.  

The epidemic continues to spread in mainland China, and according to the Commander of the Central Epidemic Command Center, Victor Wang, their situation may reach its peak in 2 months. As many will be traveling back to Taiwan from the mainland for Chinese New Year, the CECC is urging children to get vaccinated or re-vaccinated. 

Health authorities recorded 16,015 new local infections in Taiwan on Thursday (Nov. 24), a decrease of 20.2% from the previous week. There were also 65 deaths, down from 77 a week ago.

The election day is approaching fast, and in order to vote, citizens have to be COVID-19 negative, leading some to worry that some confirmed patients didn’t reported their symptoms to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) in order to be able to vote.

As the pandemic situation gradually stabilizes in Taiwan, more and more home-buyers are seeking out apartments with ventilation systems that connect to the outside and separate restrooms for its residents.

Taiwan(TVBS News) - Kaka is a restaurant manager who took over a hot pot restaurant around the time when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

Taiwan is preparing to open its borders and relax its current epidemic-prevention measures after more than two years living in the pandemic.

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases is on the rise again, and patients are in line to get vaccinated once again.  

The Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 variants have continued to spread in Taiwan. In a recent meeting organized by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, health experts decided that the next-generation vaccines will be open for vaccination in two phases.