The Coronavirus Outbreak

 

On December 31, 2019, an outbreak of respiratory illness later proved to be caused by a novel coronavirus, officially named Coronavirus

Disease 2019 (COVID-19), was notified first in Wuhan, a city of Hubei province, People's Republic of China (PRC).

COVID-19 rapidly spreads in China and to other parts of the world. Currently more than 70,000 laboratory-confirmed cases in China have

been reported,and the case count has been rising daily.

Some travelers-related transmission were also identified in many countries, including Taiwan, Singapore, Vietnam, Republic of Korea,

Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, Germany, France, United States (U.S.),Australia, etc. through an international conveyance,

and raised a global health emergency.

A total of 2,599 cases have been reported, including 44 confirmed cases in Taiwan announced by The Central Epidemic Command Center .

Among the confirmed cases, there are one death, 12 discharged from the hospital, and the remainder hospitalized in stable condition.

 

 

Surgical masks 

 

The Taiwanese government announced a temporary ban on the export of face masks for a month, in order to secure a supply of masks

for its own citizens. 

Masks are also made available for children under the age of 12.

On 6 February, the government instituted a mask rationing system, requiring citizens to present their National Health Insurance card.

Prior to its implementation, the system was extended to holders of the Alien Resident Certificate, and people with valid entry permits.

The system is based on odd or even numbered National Health Insurance cards, and limits an adult with an NHI card to purchasing 

three face masks at 15NT per week at NHI contracted pharmacies and local public health clinics in rural areas.

 

 

 

Travel alerts

 

Late last month, the CDC placed Hubei Province under a Level 3 travel alert and placed the rest of China at Level 2 with health warnings.

Since February 5, Zhejiang Province has been identified as a likely communicable risk.

On February 1, the CDC issued a statement advising anyone who had visited China in the previous two weeks

to avoid hospitals and healthcare facilities and to instead self-monitor for symptoms at home. 

Travelers should always avoid contact with sick people and clean their hands often by washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds

or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with 60%–95% alcohol.

 

 

Taiwan can Help Fight the Coronavirus

 

However, Taiwan was excluded from the WHO emergency meetings on the new coronavirus crisis.

In fact, Taiwan has been denied permission to attend the annual World Health Assembly and WHO technical and experts’ meetings

since 2016 due to Beijing’s aggressive attempts at limiting Taiwan’s international participation.

Besides WHO, Taiwan is also unable to receive the most updated information from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)

regarding its responses to the unfolding emergency situation since Taiwan is without membership in ICAO either. 

No one should be left behind amid the current health crisis

Therefore, we are very grateful for our diplomatic allies in Africa, Latin America, and the Pacific, as well as like-minded countries such as

the United States, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, together with the European Union,

for publicly voicing in recent weeks their staunch support for Taiwan’s participation in WHO to jointly combat the deadly disease.

Taiwan, with its health care system ranked No. 1 for two years in a row in the Health Care Index,

has advanced medical skills and cutting-edge health technology that can help in controlling global epidemics.

In recent years, for instance, Taiwan has hosted several workshops with the United States on measures to prevent dengue fever, Zika virus,

chikungunya virus, enterovirus, and tuberculosis for those countries in need.

With its state-of-the-art disease prevention capabilities in line with the International Health Regulations, Taiwan has much to offer.

Taiwan deserves more international access in response to the current and future health crisis.

At the same time, rest assured that Taiwan can and will always punch above its weight to help.

 

 

 

Now in Chemex

 

In response to the Coronavirus disease, we started to measure the temperature of all empolyees and the customer who came into

the factory every single day, also prepared 75% alcohol for disinfection.

We keep operating as usaual and keep close taps on all product to make sure our shipping is on schedule,

and plan to raise the output of the production to prevent any unexpected condition.

Hope you and us stay healthy and safe.

 

 

 

 

Your sincerely,

CHEMEX Industrial Co., LTD.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References:

Wikipedia, Taiwan Centers for Disease Control, foreignpolicy.com, sciencedirect.com, thediplomat.com, international.thenewslens.com