content_text:
印度全國封鎖防疫期間，驚傳一名員警盤查旅行許可證時，遭兇嫌持劍斬斷左手手掌。圖為印度員警示意圖，非當事人。（歐新社）

2020-04-13 23:43:33

〔即時新聞／綜合報導〕武漢肺炎（COVID-19）肆虐全球，印度亦宣布全國封鎖防疫，昨（12）日驚傳一名員警在盤查旅行許可證時，遭兇嫌持劍斬斷左手手掌，所幸送醫手術後成功接回。

據《CNN》報導，爆發自中國的武漢肺炎疫情延燒全球，印度3月底下令全國封鎖防疫21天。印度西部旁遮普邦（Punjab）昨（12）日驚傳一名員警辛格（Harjit Singh）盤查乘坐7人的車輛，要求出示通行許可證時，遭兇嫌持劍斬斷左手手掌，當場血流如注。

報導指出，所幸辛格送醫後歷經8小時手術，成功保住了性命並將手掌接回。對此，旁遮普邦首席部長阿馬林達‧辛格（Amarinder Singh）痛批，當時警方甚至沒有拿出武器，只是要求出示許可證，卻被砍斷手掌，這完全是無法接受的暴行。他並重申，任何違反宵禁和封鎖禁令的人，都將受到重罰。

兇手屬於錫克教（Sikhism）一個少數武鬥派分支尼昂（Nihang）教派，傳統以戰場上的兇狠無情著稱，通常備受錫克教徒的敬重，但每個人的信仰和行道方式迥異。

據悉，印度迄今已傳出近萬例確診，其中逾300人死亡，3月底宣布全國封鎖14天後，近日再度延長封鎖期限至本（4）月30日。

相關新聞請見︰武漢肺炎懶人包》傳染途徑、預防措施看這裡
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title: 武漢肺炎》印度全國封鎖！警員盤查遭人持劍斬斷掌

events: 武漢肺炎 COVID-19 死亡

countries: 印度 中國

taiwan-subdivisions: 成功 新社


title: 武漢肺炎》英國疫情肆虐 醫師：政府給錯誤隔離資訊

content_text:
2020-04-13 23:41:46

〔即時新聞／綜合報導〕武漢肺炎（COVID-19）疫情肆虐，各國政府會要求感染機率大的民眾進行居家檢疫。但英國的家庭醫學科醫師（又稱全科醫師）卻警告，該國各地許多民眾從官方得到關於隔離的錯誤資訊，甚至有些被錯誤通知必須隔離12週。

《衛報》報導，上月英國政府宣布將於3月29日前聯繫150萬人，通知他們為「極可能感染武漢肺炎的一群」，並需在家中隔離12週。但許多家庭醫學科醫師擔心政府數據可能沒有適時更新，因為越來越多民眾打電話詢問：「不知道為什麼會收到簡訊或信件。」而感染的高風險族群則抱怨沒有收到任何消息。

倫敦醫師席爾曼（Francesca Silman）指出，她認識的人中，應該進行隔離的有些尚未收到通知，有些則在這幾天才得到訊息。她說：「我想國家醫療保健署（NHS）應該是認為家庭醫學科醫師有辦法做出診斷。」並補充：「但診斷會被拒絕。民眾會想以政府寄送的信件為主。」

一名英國東北提賽德（Teesside）的家庭醫學科醫師提供的資料顯示，他的10名器官移植病人中，有4位沒有收到要求隔離的信件；而其他如化療、免疫系統受損、血癌的高風險感染患者，也並未在名單中。

「應被隔離者」的名單倚賴英國國家醫療保健署電腦部門「NHS Digital」數千員工手動輸入，因此容易產生錯誤。本週NHS Digital從全國家庭醫學科醫師得資料庫中提取相關數據，使原先只有90萬人的名單，增加了40萬人。

英國皇家全科醫師學會（RCGP）表示，若民眾認為自己應被隔離卻未被告知，或收到錯誤的信件、簡訊，則應聯繫家庭醫學科醫師或醫學專家，以他們的指示與意見為主。該學會主席馬歇爾（Martin Marshall）承諾，他們正與衛生部門共同研討，提高名單的準確度。

英國至今累計已超過8萬4000人確診，其中逾1萬人病故。

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content_text:
迪士尼經典動畫「花木蘭」拍成真人版電影，原定3月27日上映，受武漢肺炎疫情影響，改於7月24日上映。（美聯社）

2020-04-13 23:56:02

〔即時新聞／綜合報導〕迪士尼經典動畫「花木蘭」原定3月27日推出真人版電影，找來中國知名女星劉亦菲飾演女主角，卻因武漢肺炎疫情撤檔，延後至7月24日上映，現在中國網友發現，票房計算網站「Box Office Mojo」顯示它全球票房僅847美元，折合台幣約2萬5478元，讓中國網友相當傻眼。

「Box Office Mojo」是亞馬遜公司（Amazon）旗下的系統性計算電影票房網站，創辦人電影分析師布蘭登格雷 （Brandon Gray） 在1998年8月創辦該網站，目前該網站平均每個月流量達到100萬人次，其所附設的論壇也是這個特色之一。

中國網友10日在「豆瓣網」討論區指出，「Box Office Mojo」網站顯示，「花木蘭」真人版電影斥資2億美元（約台幣60億元）拍攝，在挪威卻只拿下83美元（約台幣2496美元）的票房，全球票房累計也僅有874美元（約2萬5478元），令中國網友相當詫異。

事實上，「Box Office Mojo」網站顯示的數據是挪威17家影廳在3月27日至29日的數據，由於其他國家的檔期已於3月13日宣布延後，因此沒有在3月27日當天播出，系統顯示的全球票房僅有挪威上映3天累計下來的金額，該網站也顯示，美國已經排定於7月24日才上映。

相關新聞請見︰武漢肺炎懶人包》傳染途徑、預防措施看這裡
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title: 「花木蘭」全球票房僅847美元？中國網友全傻眼了！

countries: 中國 美國 挪威


title: 武漢肺炎》菲律賓確診數暴增 超越大馬為東南亞最多

content_text:
菲律賓衛生部宣布今日增加284例確診和18例死亡，全國累計4932例，其中315例死、242例痊癒，確診數超越馬來西亞的4817例，成為東南亞確診數量最多的國家。（歐新社）

2020-04-13 23:57:10

〔即時新聞／綜合報導〕東南亞地區的武漢肺炎（COVID-19）疫情持續擴散，菲律賓今天（13日）公布累計確診4932例，超越馬來西亞，成為東南亞確診數最多的國家，死亡數方面，以印尼399死最多。

綜合外媒報導，菲律賓衛生部宣布今日增加284例確診和18例死亡，全國累計4932例，其中315例死、242例痊癒，確診數超越馬來西亞的4817例，成為東南亞確診數量最多的國家。先前菲律賓大學一項研究指出，菲律賓疫情將在4月底至6月達到巔峰。

馬來西亞方面，今日增加134例確診和1例死亡，全國累計4817例，其中77例死、2276例痊癒，痊癒確診病例數占總數的47.23%。

印尼方面，今日增加316例確診和26例死亡，全國累計4557例，其中399例死、380例痊癒，死亡數為東南亞最多。

根據《約翰霍普金斯大學》公布的最新疫情動態顯示，泰國全國累計2579例，其中40例死亡；新加坡全國累計2532例，其中8例死亡。

相關新聞請見︰武漢肺炎懶人包》傳染途徑、預防措施看這裡
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events: 武漢肺炎 死亡 COVID-19

countries: 菲律賓 新加坡 馬來西亞 印尼 泰國


title: 武漢肺炎》印度貧民窟疫情升溫 政府派員到府量體溫

content_text:
2020-04-13 23:56:34

〔即時新聞／綜合報導〕武漢肺炎疫情延燒全球，印度貧民窟達拉維（Dharavi）病例持續增加，政府近日派員「到府」，對近百萬名居民測量體溫。

綜合外媒報導，印度貧民窟達拉維人口約100萬，離商業首都孟買僅5公里，目前累計有47個病例，其中4人死亡；若達拉維的疫情沒有獲得控制，孟買醫療體系恐會崩潰，因此當地政府相當不安，並將達拉維封鎖。

馬哈拉施特拉邦（Maharashtra）醫學委員會從上週末開始拜訪達拉維的住戶，一一替他們測量體溫，預計會耗費10個工作天。

政府官員基蘭·迪格夫卡（Kiran Dighavkar）表示，很多居民擔心因違規而受罰，所以不會確實告知行動軌跡；不過非營利組織橡子基金會（Acorn Foundation）負責人維諾德·謝蒂（Vinod Shetty）認為，在10、12人同住在一個棚子、80個人共用一個公共廁所的情況下，很難指望他們整天待在家。

相關新聞請見︰武漢肺炎懶人包》傳染途徑、預防措施看這裡
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events: 武漢肺炎 死亡


countries: 中國 美國

content_text:
美國國家過敏與傳染病研究院主任佛奇（圖中左）坦承疫情初期及早鎖國可以拯救更多性命，對此，總統川普（圖中右）疑似不滿該發言，在推特上轉貼由共和黨前候選人所發的「#火掉佛奇」推文。（資料照，路透）

2020-04-13 23:55:33

〔即時新聞／綜合報導〕武漢肺炎（COVID-19）重創北美，美國頂尖傳染病學專家、國家過敏與傳染病研究院（NIAID）主任佛奇（Anthony Fauci）日前受訪時坦承若當初及早鎖國可以拯救更多性命，對此，美國總統川普疑似不滿該發言，在個人推特上轉貼由另一名共和黨員所發起的「#火掉佛奇」（#FireFauci）推文。

據《路透》報導，爆發自中國的武漢肺炎重創歐美，美國迄今已傳逾55萬例確診、2萬人死亡。對此，美國頂尖傳染病學專家、擔任國家過敏與傳染病研究員（NIAID）主任長達36年的佛奇，日前接受《CNN》訪問時坦承，若當初美國及早鎖國，就可以拯救更多性命。

佛奇表示：「顯然如果我們有個更好的（防疫）起頭會比較順利，但並不能說如今的疫情肇因於這單一條件，實際原因是錯綜複雜的。」

報導指出，原本立場就和川普多有矛盾的佛奇，因為這番言論又引來更多極右派的批評和辱罵，今（13）日川普本人甚至在推特上轉貼其他前共和黨候選人所發起的「#火掉佛奇」的貼文，令外界認為這是川普對佛奇完全失去耐心，準備要開除他的訊號。

據悉，現年79歲的佛奇已領導美國國家傳染病機構長達36年，期間歷經多次政黨輪替，2008年他甚至曾獲共和黨前總統小布希（George W. Bush）頒發國家級「總統自由勳章」（Presidential Medal of Freedom）；部分美國民調顯示，比起川普，美國民眾更信賴佛奇所主導的防疫措施。

相關原文請見：

Sorry Fake News, it’s all on tape. I banned China long before people spoke up. Thank you @OANN https://t.co/d40JQkUZg5

— Donald J. Trump （@realDonaldTrump） April 12, 2020 相關新聞請見︰武漢肺炎懶人包》傳染途徑、預防措施看這裡
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title: 武漢肺炎》實話不能說？川普轉推文要「Fire」36年頂尖防疫專家


content_text:
2020-04-14 00:29:34

〔即時新聞／綜合報導〕日本因武漢肺炎病例不斷攀升，飯店及旅遊業者大受影響。位於宮崎的喜來登酒店在外牆上利用170間房間燈光，在黑暗的夜裡打造一個笑臉，鼓勵大家「帶著微笑度過困境」。

據《朝日新聞》報導，這個想法源自於一名員工，武漢肺炎的疫情讓人民生活趨於黑暗，他則想在這艱困的時期為大家帶來光明，此舉也讓網友紛紛拍照上傳社群媒體。

飯店業者除了在官網上放「點燈笑臉」照片之外，也在下方寫道：「這個希望之光為日本帶來微笑和團結，相信我們可以一起克服困境，也請大家安全健康。」暖心之舉也為武漢肺炎疫情帶來的黑暗增添一絲光亮。

相關新聞請見︰武漢肺炎懶人包》傳染途徑、預防措施看這裡
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title: 武漢肺炎》攜手突破  日本飯店以「笑臉」點燃希望之光


content_text:
陸媒發布新冠疫情報導，曝露武漢中南醫院院長王行環（圖）通報疫情遭官員壓制刪除的內幕，但報導不到一天即遭撤下。（圖／網路）

陸媒《財新網》近日刊出一則報導揭露武漢封城秘辛指出，早在鍾南山與李蘭娟等院士到武漢考察疫情前，武漢中南醫院院長王行環曾不斷向湖北衛健委通報疫情的嚴重性，但有關訊息全遭壓制甚至刪除，還被批評「政治覺悟不高」。最後王院長主動找上剛到武漢的鍾、李兩位院士通報情況，才促成北京做成武漢封城決定。不過，這篇手記式的採訪記錄卻在上架一天後遭撤下，但文章內容已在大陸網上廣為流傳。

據《美國之音》指出，大陸《財新網》記者蕭輝的一篇採訪手記《武漢疫情中的中南醫院：他們打滿全場》近日在互聯網流傳。文中提到，武漢大學中南醫院院長王行環今年1月初就已經感到疫情爆發事態嚴重，於1月3日啟動隔離病房及發燒門診，還不斷向武漢、湖北衛健委的通報中提醒官員，不要忘記SARS的慘痛教訓，但卻多次被上級批評「政治覺悟不高」、「要注意政治影響」。

報道說，蕭輝的記者手記4月12日流出。她在手記中寫道，1月20日世衛安排專家到中南醫院考察，1月19日湖北省、武漢市衛健委領導來中南醫院考察安排接待世衛專家時，衛健委的官員要求中南醫院人員「注意政治影響和說話方式」。但中南醫院院長王行環卻反駁：「我一定會實話實說。你們難道忘記了沙士(SARS)教訓了嗎？救人命是最大的政治，實事求是是最大的政治」。

報導說，在世衛組織到中南醫院考察的頭天晚上，王行環還回絕了跟他相熟的省級領導要他注意政治影響的叮囑。他對這位領導說，「真正的政治站位是要站在人民的立場上，站在黨中央的全局高度立場上」。

該篇手記在事後引述王行環的話說，「悲劇發生了，死了那麼多人，那麼多醫護人員感染了，我們應該反思哪些地方做得不到位，哪些地方可以改進的」。他期望國家能夠防範下一次病毒的侵襲，避免悲劇一而再、再而三發生。

採訪手記說，「在採訪中，我問王行環院長，直接頂撞頂頭上司，不怕被穿小鞋麽。王院長光明磊落地回答，『作為一個學者專家，就是應該講真話。大不了，我這個院長不當了。我還是泌尿外科的一把刀。』」

不過這篇將當時武漢瞞報疫情的狀況曝光的報導卻很快就遭到下架命運，13日早晨該文網頁已顯示「頁面不存在或已刪除！」

title: 陸媒揭武漢專家對抗官員曝露疫情秘辛 文章遭封


title: 全球產油國達成協議　5月起每日減產970萬桶

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▲位於維也納的石油輸出國家組織（OPEC）總部。（圖／路透）

實習記者符芳萱／綜合報導

石油輸出國家組織（OPEC）、俄羅斯和其他產油國於12日達成協議，從5月至6月減產970萬桶原油，以穩定因疫情導致油價暴跌和供給過剩的情況。伊朗石油部長比安•贊加內（Bijan Zanganeh）也聲明，科威特、沙烏地阿拉伯和阿拉伯聯合大公國每天將再減產200萬桶石油，以幫助重新平衡市場。

奈及利亞石油資源部發佈，其他減產措施將繼續進行，意味著從7月到年底每天將會減產800萬桶，在2021年開始的16個月減產600萬桶，墨西哥也承諾每天將減產10萬桶，使石油市場保持平衡，並有望在短期內使油價反彈到每桶15美元。

墨西哥總統羅培茲•歐布拉多（Andrés Manuel López Obrador）於10日表示，他已與美國總統川普達成協議，美國將補償墨西哥無法為提議的減產增加的補償。川普在推特說，「與OPEC +達成的重大石油交易已經完成，這將在美國節省成千上萬的能源工作，我要感謝並祝賀俄羅斯總統普京和沙特阿拉伯國王薩勒曼。」

雷蒙德•詹姆斯（Raymond James）的能源分析師穆罕默德•古拉姆（Mohammed Ghulam）說，「這樣減產的大規模是前所未有的，但是新冠疫情對需求的影響也是如此。」

Rystad Energy分析負責人Per Magnus Nysveen表示，這個行業太大了，不容讓它失敗。對此，聯盟表明，「儘管減產幅度小於市場需求，並且僅推遲了庫存限制問題，但現在避免了最壞的情況。」

countries: 沙烏地阿拉伯 伊朗 奈及利亞 科威特 俄羅斯 墨西哥 美國


title: 全球產油國達成協議　5月起每日減產970萬桶

countries: 俄羅斯 墨西哥 美國 科威特 沙烏地阿拉伯 伊朗 奈及利亞


countries: 中國 法國 美國

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▲全球70種新冠病毒疫苗正在研發中。（圖／達志影像／美聯社）

記者邱茀濱／綜合報導

根據世界衛生組織（WHO）公布的數據，顯示全球共有70種新冠病毒疫苗正在研發中，其中3種已經進入臨床試驗階段，2家為美國製藥公司莫德納（Moderna）和伊諾維（Inovio），而進度最快的為中國康希諾（CanSino）生物股份公司，已經於上週進入Ⅱ期試驗。

綜合媒體報導，康希諾生物股份公司在三月中時，與解放軍軍事醫學研究院生物工程研究所合作研發的新冠疫苗，屬於腺病毒載體疫苗，並很快就獲得中國監管部門的批准，進行Ⅰ期臨床研究。莫德納公司在今年3月獲得了美國監管部門的批准，跳過了常規疫苗開發需要進行的多年動物實驗階段，可以迅速進行人體臨床試驗；而伊諾維公司是上週開始疫苗臨床試驗的。

另一方面，根據WHO的文件，製藥界巨頭輝瑞（Pfizer）和法國製藥公司賽諾菲（Sanofi）集團開發的疫苗，目前也已進入臨床試驗之前的階段。

醫學與傳染病專家都表示，疫苗是控制新冠病毒的最有效方法。隨著疫情進一步惡化，全球大大小小的藥廠加緊腳步投入研發階段，都希望能於明年上市。但通常的疫苗上市時間需要10年至15年。

「腺病毒載體」Ⅱ期臨床研究上週招募志願者，並要求中劑量疫苗組（250例）、低劑量疫苗組（125例）和安慰劑對照組（125例），合計500例。作為志願者，將有50%的可能性接種中劑量疫苗，有25%的可能性接種低劑量疫苗，有25%的可能性接種安慰劑對照。

研究方案還指出，每位志願者於接種當日、第14天、第28天和第6個月各完成一次研究訪視，共計4次。值得注意的是，Ⅱ期與Ⅰ期研究相比，是志願者在接種疫苗後30分鐘到第14天，需要自行完成安全性觀察即可。在此期間，研究組將每天派專人對志願者進行隨訪，並指導對方完成安全性觀察和記錄。

▲中國康希諾（CanSino）生物股份公司進度最快。（圖／路透）

►酒精乾洗手特惠組！～防疫殺菌神器來囉～

title: 中國「康希諾」進度最快！世衛：全球70種新冠疫苗研發中　3種開始臨床試驗


title: 北韓國務委員會大風吹　金正恩撤換超過1/3以上成員

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▲北韓領導人金正恩。（圖／翻攝 朝中社）

記者楊庭蒝／綜合報導

北韓最高人民會議12日通過國務委員會（SAC）大幅改革，除了擔任委員長金正恩本人外，其餘13位委員有5位被撤職。新國務委員會委員包括1月出任外交部長的李善權，而被取代外長職務的李勇浩被剔除委員職務。

根據北韓官方《勞動新聞》的報導，有將近七百多人參與會議，多數沒有配戴口罩或是保持適當的「社交距離」。報導中沒有提到金正恩是否有出席指持主持會議，相關的會議照片也沒有看到他的身影。

韓聯社的報導指出，除了李善權外，勞動黨中央委員會負責軍備工作的副委員長李炳哲、人民保安相金正鎬、人民武力相金正寬也在國務委員名單之列，被推測為勞動黨負責國際事務的副委員長金衡俊也是其中一員。

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has carried out a major reshuffle of his top governing body, replacing more than a third of its membershttps://t.co/InYveNemIz pic.twitter.com/KEi6P5UdVX

— AFP news agency (@AFP) April 13, 2020
美國前北韓事務分析師李敏英（Rachel Lee）表示，這是國務委員會相當大規模的改組行動；此外，北韓當局也對於國內新冠肺炎疫情的控制相當有信心，從與會人員沒有戴口罩這一點就可以看得出來。

朝鮮中央通訊社指出，以上呈給國務委員會的預算案來看，自從去年與美國談判破裂之後，今年的國防預算占比來到15.9％，比起2019年有所增加。

countries: 北韓 韓國 美國


countries: 中國 美國 法國

title: 中國「康希諾」進度最快！世衛：全球70種新冠疫苗研發中　3種開始臨床試驗


countries: 韓國 北韓 美國

title: 北韓國務委員會大風吹　金正恩撤換超過1/3以上成員


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▲陳昇瑋驟逝，除了學術、政界緬懷外，PTT 魔獸世界也意外揭開當年他在魔獸世界中「福克斯大神」之路。（圖／翻攝台灣人工智慧學校）

記者蘇晟彥／綜合報導

台灣人工智慧學校執行長、玉山金控科技長陳昇瑋因腦出血意外陷入昏迷，經搶救後辭世，協助成立學校的中研院院長廖俊智也表示，「他是我所見過，百年難得一見的才子。」各界哀悼，批踢踢WOW（魔獸世界）版也掀起一股討論，因為陳昇瑋曾經以「福克斯大神」的名號，在魔獸世界玩家的心中留下一抹信仰。

暴雪經典MMORPG代表《魔獸世界》，至今走過十六個年頭，是現在僅存少數還以月費／點數制收費的線上遊戲，在一片免洗遊戲的市場中以史詩故事以及畫風陪同不少玩家從少年步入職場，甚至在去年開放經典服時引起一股轟動，至今仍有人沉浸在推副本的回憶中。

▲在新手村完全不移動的「福克斯大神」在當時成為伺服器之謎。（圖／翻攝自陳昇瑋〈當學術研究者遇上線上遊戲〉）

在當時有那麼一個傳說，每個月要付費450元才能暢遊艾澤拉斯時，大家無不卯足全力練等、刷副本，卻有一個食人妖「福克斯大神」從2005年就這樣靜靜站在新手村中，不會說話、不會移動，讓許多玩家紛紛猜測是不是GM（Game Management）、或是互動式NPC，有人嘗試對他輸入各種指令，有人對他講了很多關鍵字，但他依然保持那個姿勢。

當年為了維持伺服器穩定，只要暫離超過30分鐘左右就會被判定斷線的年代，「福克斯大神」便再玩家中成為一個傳說，他的事蹟慢慢傳開，連不是同一個伺服器的人都紛紛創立角色來這朝聖。

就這樣接連的兩年時間裡，「福克斯大神教」的信仰逐漸散開，有人開始慢慢發現，這個被大家猜測是遊戲NPC、GM的腳色，其實有時候會「抖動」，讓大家更堅信這絕對是一個活人，甚至有可能24小時都在電腦前面，如同偶像般若被發現一個移動，就會成為玩家間的大新聞，甚至還出現有無數玩家在福克斯大神身邊「殉教」的事件，就是為了用此方式看看會不會有「神蹟降臨」。

一直到有一天，福克斯大神移動了位置，信徒們也堅貞不移的跟隨，讓福克斯大神在魔獸世界中成為伺服器最大的謎團之一。

福克斯大神之謎，最終還是被人揭曉了。原來是時任中央研究院的陳昇瑋正在進行網路遊戲相關的研究，包含人流、外掛等等，福克斯大神正是被他用來研究《魔獸世界》玩家的人流的工具。當時以定期指令詢問伺服器玩家人數，保持不會被踢下線（至於為什麼偶爾會下線？那就是剛好BOT失靈啦！），甚至他在研究中還詳細的紀錄下當時玩家的反應「他是已離去（去世）玩家的怨靈嗎？還是在悲傷愛情故事裡，癡等所愛的另一個人？」、「半年我到聖光之願（伺服器名稱）創角時他就在那邊，半年後再玩新角色時他還在那邊，請問我要回報給GM嗎==，怪恐怖的。」

至今13年前的事件，是當時正值30歲的陳昇瑋與魔獸世界玩家中結下的回憶，在聽聞陳昇瑋驟逝的這天，PTT 魔獸世界版的老玩家們也發文弔念「福克斯大神」，願這位被稱作百年難得一見人才的他，同時也在魔獸世界中走出「成神之路」，在彼端也能繼續成為大家心中的信仰。

title: 百年難見才子！《魔獸世界》傳說「福克斯大神」陳昇瑋驟逝　網揭成神之路


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記者陳芊秀／綜合報導

夫妻關係最忌小三介入，對象如果是最要好的閨蜜，更是精神上一大折磨。春季熱播日劇《Guilty這戀愛有罪嗎？》描述人妻難忘初戀，不過老公出軌，對象是女主角閨蜜，成為觀眾又氣又看的新指標，最新劇情小三更闖入正宮家，超渣行徑讓網友開罵了！

***以下有第二集劇情雷，敬請斟酌閱讀***

▲《Guilty這戀愛有罪嗎？》閨蜜睡好友老公，小三舉動被罵渣。（圖／翻攝自KKTV）

《Guilty這戀愛有罪嗎？》改編自同名漫畫，人妻「小爽」心中難忘初戀，和老公結婚6年，想要小孩卻被拒絕，原來另一半在外面有小三，對象正是她的談心閨蜜「瑠衣」。繼第一集丈夫和閨蜜玄關激吻，第二集閨蜜更趁正宮不在，踏進家門來了。

▲閨蜜闖進正宮家找已婚男偷情。（圖／翻攝自KKTV）

▲閨蜜走進主臥室，摸正宮床相當好奇。（圖／翻攝自KKTV）

▲出軌老公拒絕小三。（圖／翻攝自KKTV）

小三瑠衣不但進正宮家，還走進夫妻臥房，摸床一臉好奇，出軌老公此時冷臉拒絕。而她改走去浴室，任由花灑淋濕全身，回想雨天初相遇，從此展開不倫關係，她拉男方一起濕身，無辜眼神「只看我」，接著邊脫外衣邊獻吻，最後解開內衣上空，令男方失控回吻。

▲閨蜜到浴室沖濕再撩。（圖／翻攝自KKTV）

▲閨蜜濕身解開外衣釦子。（圖／翻攝自KKTV）

▲閨蜜邊脫衣邊獻吻。（圖／翻攝自KKTV）

▲閨蜜不斷勾引，自己解開內衣。（圖／翻攝自KKTV）

▲閨蜜上半身脫光，出軌老公失控回吻。（圖／翻攝自KKTV）

《Guilty》打出「全角色都是背叛者」口號，第二集就讓正宮女主角親眼目睹，閨蜜和老公門口偷情，為此嚇傻震驚。網友看不倫劇情氣罵「閨蜜很妖豔，但真的不是普通的渣」、「老公在自己家抱別的女人真恐怖！」還有人提醒女主角「沒有時間受驚啦！怎麼不拿手機拍，這是證據啊！」

▲《Guilty這戀愛有罪嗎？》第二集進度飛快，女主角目睹老公偷情閨蜜。（圖／翻攝自KKTV）

▲網友氣罵閨蜜超渣。（圖／翻攝自推特）

▲網友提醒女主角要拍照當證據。（圖／翻攝自KKTV）

title: 「最渣閨蜜」睡好友老公…想躺正宮床！　浴室濕身「解釦子」勾引


title: 韓國爆紅起司蛋糕出草莓新口味！夢幻粉紅造型融化少女心

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編輯／Emily 圖／翻攝自IG@aomn4266、@ha____cho

韓國7-11便利商店先前推出的起司蛋糕在網路上爆紅，因為蛋糕的外型超級卡通，彷彿直接從《湯姆貓與傑利鼠》裡搬出來，可愛到捨不得吃！現在這款起司蛋糕推出全新草莓口味，整塊蛋糕都是夢幻的粉紅色，完全激發少女心，讓甜點控們好心動。


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實習記者周茹焮／綜合報導

居住在英國東南部肯特郡（Kent）法弗舍姆（Faversham）附近的薩布麗娜（Sabrina），從去年3月開始，自家後花園出現一隻極為罕見的白化松鼠(Albino squirrel)，活潑的在花盆旁四處亂竄覓食，她幫松鼠取名叫「Snow White」（白雪公主）。

薩布麗娜表示，罕見的白化松鼠體型比起一般的灰松鼠小非常多，「看過很多野兔、珠雞和雉等，但唯獨白雪公主是前所未見的，我們希望牠能堅持下去。」

▲白化松鼠。(資料圖／達志影像)

「白化松鼠」的外貌特殊，與一般有保護色掩護的灰松鼠及紅松鼠來得搶眼，由於雪白的毛加上紅色的眼睛，穿梭在碧綠樹林間非常的醒目，因而淪為其他肉食動物，像是狐狸、貓、狗等的掠食目標，反倒短暫的冬天下雪時，對牠們比較有利。

此外，同樣的白化松鼠也曾出現在英國的萊斯特郡的哈伯勒市場(Market Harborough, Leicestershire, Britain) ，許多路人看到牠在樹上吃漿果，當時正是秋季，估計是在為自己儲存熱量，以準備度過來臨的冬季。

松鼠是屬於不會冬眠的動物，而寒冷季節比平時更難覓食，所以通常會先為自己增肥25%的體重，才有足夠的能量來保持體溫，因白化松鼠缺乏保護色，在殘酷的生態環境中難以生存，所以許多人看見牠們都會伸出援手餵食。

▲許多人看見白化松鼠都會伸出援手餵食。(資料圖／達志影像)

目前英國僅存的50隻野生白化松鼠，是由於體內黑色素不足，導致眼睛呈現紅色、皮膚和毛都是呈現白色，而白化症也會可能出現在人類、魚類、兩棲類、鳥類，甚至是植物。由於白化症的生物可能因為容易受到陽光灼傷及天敵的獵食，所以在野外的生存機率不高，是十分罕見的動物。

title: 「白雪公主」出現在住家花園　英國罕見的小巧白化松鼠


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記者劉宛欣／綜合報導

南韓演員河正宇在2019年底遭到駭客盜取手機資料，以此威脅索取數億韓元，近期兩名勒索犯已遭逮捕。日前韓媒《STARNEWS》也釋出案發當時，與他進行的單獨採訪內容，透露河正宇被勒索的完整時間軸及內容。

▲河正宇在2019年底遭到駭客以手機資料勒索。（圖／CFP）

河正宇表示手機被駭客入侵是2019年12月2日左右，對方透過簡訊聯絡他，並發送了河正宇手機裡「與前女友一起去旅行的照片」以及「注射牛奶針」的文字訊息內容給他進行威脅。與駭客對話的時間長達一個月，期間雙方為此共進行了3次對話。

河正宇提及曾對告訴駭客：「你們只會用這種東西來威脅？」沒想到對方竟回覆「畢竟您是有名人士啊」。河在與身邊的朋友商量後，在第一次收到威脅訊息的3天後，向首爾警察廳網絡搜查隊報了案，並完整交出了手機資料追蹤的內容。

▲河正宇在收到威脅後第3天，向警方報案。（圖／記者季相儒攝）

當時警方還向代替河正宇報案的朋友警告，雖然作為「被害者」報案，但如果河的手機內容有牽涉「他本人」犯罪的不當內容，隨時有可能轉換為「嫌疑人」，而河正宇方面則認為問心無愧，所以交出了所有資料，並表示「完全沒關係」。

河正宇透露當時因電影宣傳活動，曝光率很高，而威脅也因此不間斷地出現，甚至在為《白頭山：半島浩劫》進行直播活動時，收到駭客傳訊息說道「我正在看你的直播，我還以為你會焦躁不安」，對方還威脅會在電影上映期間爆出來，而當時河正宇反擊「你試試，我就算有錢也要用在抓你們上面」，然而他坦承當時憤怒與壓力大到他「簡直無法呼吸」，最後駭客在12月30日舉白旗投降，結束了河正宇地獄般的1個月。

▲河正宇在宣傳《白頭山：半島浩劫》時，遭駭客威脅會在電影上映時爆出。（圖／車庫提供）

不料在那之後，河正宇因為將手機資料全數交給警方，所以被爆出非法使用牛奶針（異丙酚）一事，然而他強調是以治療為目的而使用，也有著和醫師的完整聯絡訊息內容，他說道「我不懂為何要把受威脅的被害者看待成犯罪者」，對於非法用藥嫌疑感到非常冤枉。在《STARNEWS》釋出報導後，河正宇方最新回應表示「相關調查結束之前，沒有任何能夠發布的立場，在調查結束之前會密切關注案件進展」。

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title: 河正宇被威脅外流「與前女友親密照」！　交手駭客「地獄般的1個月」：簡直無法呼吸


content_text:
Virus Outbreak: Timeline of preventive efforts against COVID-19
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title: Military budget shows plans for a power exoskeleton

content_text:
The military is planning to spend millions of New Taiwan dollars to design and build its own military-use powered exoskeleton, which is expected to begin production in 2023, a Ministry of National Defense budget proposal for fiscal 2020 showed.

The Armaments Bureau has allocated NT$250 million (US$8.3 million) to develop a powered exoskeleton, a wearable mechanized system that magnifies movements, allowing enhanced ability to perform physical tasks.

The military plans to use the suits in wartime and in post-disaster rescue and relief missions, a military source said yesterday.

The project expects to learn from the US military’s experience in developing its own powered exoskeleton that increases mobility and reduces fatigue for operators, which could prove helpful during combat or rescue missions, the source said.

The suits would support operators carrying loads over long distances by reducing stress on leg muscles, the source said.

Only a handful of countries, including the US, Japan and Canada, are working on similar technology for military use and their technology is not available at present for confidentiality reasons, the source said.

Most of the powered exoskeleton suits available on the market are designed for medical or industrial use and are not suitable for military purposes, giving reason to Taiwan to develop its own equipment, they said.

Another key is that the suits need to be tailored to the operator’s body and those made overseas might not be suitable for the average height and weight of Taiwanese soldiers, the source said.

The bureau said that it is working closely with private medical technology, automation and robotics companies, as well as local universities and the military’s top research institution, the Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology, on the project.

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title: Ministry reports 12.9% increase in tax revenue

content_text:
The Ministry of Finance yesterday said that it collected NT$19.3 billion (US$640.77 million) in tax revenue last month, representing a 12.9 percent increase from a year earlier, on the back of gains from most tax categories.

Despite the improvement, Department of Statistics Deputy Director-General Chen Yu-feng (陳玉豐) voiced concern that the ministry might not be able to meet the budget target this year, as the impact of COVID-19 would be more evident from this month.

Corporate income tax revenue swelled 54.9 percent year-on-year to NT$5.5 billion last month, while personal income tax revenue rose 1.9 percent to NT$22.1 billion, the ministry’s report showed.

Securities transaction tax revenue soared 63.4 percent to NT$4.8 billion, while average daily market turnover grew 52.19 percent to NT$204.7 billion from NT$134.5 billion a year earlier, the report said.

Paradoxically, panic selling instead of bullish sentiment drove up the turnover volume, Chen said.

Foreign institutional players sold US$17.95 billion worth of local shares as of Friday last week. They trimmed their positions by another net NT$7.5 billion yesterday, Taiwan Stock Exchange data showed.

Major tech firms are due to give their earnings guidances for the second quarter after posting an impressive improvement in revenue in the first quarter.

Camera lens supplier Largan Precision Co (大立光) on Thursday last week said that demand is expected to slow this month and the next as the virus outbreak has hurt orders from the West.

Land value increment tax revenue grew 21.3 percent to NT$8.5 billion, attributable mainly to large-volume deals, with the number of transactions increasing by a modest 2.2 percent annually to 51,196 deals, the ministry said.

For the first three months of the year, the ministry said that it had accumulated NT$400.6 billion in tax revenue, an increase of 10.1 percent from the same period last year and ahead of the government’s budget target by 10.2 percent so far.

However, the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak would intensify from this month and weigh on the state chest, Chen said.

Tobacco and liquor tax revenue for the first quarter shrunk 8.2 percent from a year earlier to NT$15.5 billion and the decline would worsen going forward if the pandemic persists, she said.

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title: US military planes fly through Bashi Channel: report

content_text:
Two US military aircraft reportedly flew close to the nation’s southern airspace yesterday, one day after the Ministry of National Defense confirmed that a Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) aircraft carrier battle group sailed east of the country.

A US RC-135W Rivet Joint and a Lockheed P-3 Orion were operating in the South China Sea, according to flight charts posted on Twitter yesterday morning by Aircraft Spots, a military air movement tracker.

Based on the Twitter posts, the two planes flew at different intervals, with the RC-135W reconnaissance plane spotted first over the Bashi Channel, southwest of Taiwan.

Ministry spokesman Major General Shih Shun-wen (史順文) did not directly confirm the aircraft sightings, except to say the military is closely monitoring the nation’s surrounding waters and airspace.

According to charts released by Aircraft Spots and the ministry’s own records, the latest incident was the 10th time US aircraft have operated near the nation’s airspace since March 25.

The ministry on Sunday evening said that a PLAN aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, escorted by two destroyers, two frigates and a supply ship, were monitored as they passed through the Miyako Strait to the northeast of Taiwan on Saturday, headed south.

The flotilla passed to the east of Taiwan on Sunday as it moved southward on a long-range training mission, the ministry said, adding that no unusual activities were detected.

Su Tzu-yun (蘇紫雲), a senior analyst at the Taipei-based Institute of National Defense and Security Research, on Sunday said that Beijing has expanded its maritime and air presence in the Indo-Pacific region.

“This is probably the main reason US reconnaissance planes have recently been spotted operating near the Bashi Channel, to monitor the movements of the People’s Liberation Army in the area,” Su said.

Presidential Office spokesman Ting Yun-kung (丁允恭) on Sunday said the public has no need to worry about the nation’s safety and security.

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taiwan-subdivisions: 楠梓 埔心

content_text:
CONFIDENTIAL:
 The transportation safety board said it would ensure that railway operators could report incidents through a Web site, or via Facebook or Line

The nation’s first confidential railway safety reporting system is to be launched in August, the Taiwan Transportation Safety Board said yesterday.

The government has a system through which airlines are required to report certain types of accidents, but they also have internal systems to record incidents, the board said.

However, there is a confidential aviation safety reporting system that allows airlines to voluntarily report accidents and not be subject to punitive measures for reporting them, it said.

The confidential system has been in operation for almost 20 years and has been proven to enhance the nation’s aviation safety by allowing carriers to voluntarily report unsafe situations, explain how they handle them and make suggestions, the board said.

Similar systems would be built for railway, waterway and highway operators, it said.

A confidential safety reporting system for railways would be launched first on Aug. 1, board chairman Young Hong-tsu (楊宏智) said, adding that it would consult the designers of a similar system in the US.

The board would ensure that railway operators could report incidents via a Web site, Facebook and Line, Young said.

National Train Drivers’ Union secretary-general Wu Chang-chih (吳長智) said that having such a system is necessary, particularly after a commuter train collided with a truck whose engine flamed out while it was driving over a railway crossing in Kaohsiung’s Nanzih District (楠梓), injuring four people.

A similar incident occurred in Taoyuan’s Pushin District (埔心) eight years ago, when a train hit a gravel truck on a crossing, killing the train driver and injuring the train conductor and 21 passengers, Wu said.

After the Pushin incident, the union suggested that the Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) install an infrared system on railway crossings on curves to detect barriers on the tracks, he said, adding that the TRA has not been active over the matter, as it involves budget allocations.

Once the new reporting system is launched, train drivers could report unsafe situations and make safety suggestions on it in addition to the TRA’s internal system, Wu said.

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title: New rail safety reporting system to start in August


content_text:
Virus Outbreak: Taiwan has wide-scale virus testing, experts say

‘NEW THINKING’:
 People who carry antibodies for the coronavirus could play a crucial role in social recovery, NTU College of Public Health vice dean Tony Chen said

Taiwan has already achieved wide-scale screening of COVID-19, public health experts at National Taiwan University (NTU) said yesterday, and suggested developing antibody rapid diagnostic tests to help society and the economy bounce back from the pandemic quicker.

NTU College of Public Health dean Chan Chang-chuan (詹長權) said that Taiwan has done a good job in blocking COVID-19 at it borders over the past 100 days.

Taiwan has also used digital technology to trace and find domestic cases who had been exposed to imported cases, and isolate them for treatment to prevent the virus from further spreading in communities, he said.

Wearing masks and practicing “social distancing” have also had positive effects, he said.

While it is still unknown how the global COVID-19 pandemic would develop, many countries face the challenging decision of whether to gradually lift disease-prevention regulations to allow economic recovery, and if so, how to do it, Chan said.

NTU Hospital department of emergency medicine doctor Lee Chien-chang (李建璋) said that while many have questioned why Taiwan did not test more people for the disease, he thinks Taiwan has already achieved wide-scale screening of COVID-19.

The situation in each country is different, so the testing coverage rate should not be calculated by how many people have been tested per 1 million population, but rather by how many people have tested positive among those who were tested for COVID-19, Lee said.

About one person in every 120 tested people shows a positive result in Taiwan, compared with one in about every 50 tested people in Australia and South Korea, one in about every 10 tested people in the US, and one in about every two tested people in New York, he said.

He said that the testing coverage in Taiwan is higher than Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development nations, but if the rate of positive results increases to about one in every 50 tested people, then Taiwan should consider increasing the number of the tests it conducts.

NTU College of Public Health vice dean Tony Chen (陳秀熙) said that as most countries use reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction tests or rapid antigen tests to detect infected people and isolate them for treatment, the next step should be developing antibody rapid diagnostic tests.

“We have to completely change our way of thinking,” Chen said. “Those who had been infected and have recovered carry antibodies, so they have become an important group that can protect other people.”

Antibody rapid diagnostic tests can be used to find these healthy people, especially healthcare professionals, airline crew members or people in the tourism industry, who have recovered from COVID-19, and they can safely return to work, bringing society back to normal, he said.

In countries where large-scale outbreaks have not occurred, such as Taiwan, rapid antigen tests for finding infected people is important for infection control and treatment, Chan said.

However, in countries with wide-scale local spread of the disease, antibody rapid diagnostic tests are important to find a group of “safe people” who can return to work or school, he said.

Rapid wide-scale testing in Germany not only screens for infected patients, but also for people who have developed antibodies, which is an advanced disease-prevention measure as well as a preparation toward social recovery, he added.

Chan said he believes starting next month, several European countries or the US might begin to use antibody rapid diagnostic tests to revive their economy as they wait for medication to be developed.

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content_text:
Five cases of COVID-19 were confirmed yesterday, all imported: four Taiwanese who had been passengers on the Coral Princess cruise ship and a Taiwanese who returned from the US, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said.

Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中), who heads the center, said case No. 393 is a woman in her 60s who returned to Taiwan on Sunday and reported that she began coughing up phlegm on March 29 and developed diarrhea on April 1.

The woman, who was immediately transported from the airport to a hospital for testing, is the wife of Case No. 384, a man in his 70s who returned from the US on Friday and tested positive on Saturday, Chen said.

Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung, center, and other officials pose for a photograph wearing pink masks at yesterday’s daily Central Epidemic Command Center news conference.
 Photo courtesy of Central Epidemic Command Center

After the man tested positive, a family member told the CECC that his wife was planning to return, so the CECC informed the National Immigration Agency on Sunday, and discovered that she was already on a flight to Taiwan, Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Deputy Director-General Chuang Jen-hsiang (莊人祥) said.

The couple told officials that they had not been in contact with one another since late February, but that both had direct contact with an infected person at their workplace, Chuang said.

The woman wore a mask throughout the flight, but for safety’s sake, 12 flight attendants and seven passengers who were seated in the same row as the woman or two rows in front and behind her have been placed in mandatory 14-day home isolation.

Chen said the other four cases — Nos. 389 to 392 — were part of a group of seven friends and family who had traveled on their own to the US, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil and Chile, starting on Feb. 12, and on March 5 had boarded the Coral Princess in Chile.

They were stuck onboard after Argentina and other nations refused to let the ship dock, but were able to disembark on April 4 when the vessel was allowed to dock in Miami, Florida, he said.

The CECC was notified on Tuesday last week by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that seven Taiwanese had been aboard the vessel, he said.

They flew back to Taiwan via the UK on Saturday, and had been asked to wear a mask throughout the flight and had been separated from other passengers, he added.

All seven were tested upon arrival at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport before being taken to a quarantine center, and four tested positive yesterday and have been taken to hospitals, while the others remained in quarantine, Chen said.

As of Sunday, of the 388 confirmed cases in Taiwan, 205 (52.8 percent) were female and 183 (47.2 percent) were male, and they ranged in age from four to 88, with a median age of 32.5, said Chang Shan-chwen (張上淳), convener of the CECC’s advisory specialist panel.

There have been six deaths so far, while 114 patients have been removed from isolation, and 12 people are on ventilators in intensive care units, he said.

A majority of the COVID-19 patients, 278, or 71.6 percent, have experienced mild symptoms, while 81 (20.9 percent) developed mild pneumonia and 29 (7.5 percent) developed serious pneumonia or respiratory failure, he said.

Chang said 22 cases (5.7 percent) were asymptomatic when tested, mostly family members of confirmed cases, but some developed symptoms after they were placed in isolation for treatment.

Meanwhile, amid concerns by some legislators that the government might have been secretly stockpiling requisitioned masks and not releasing them to the public, Chen showed reporters a chart detailing mask distribution from Jan. 31 to Saturday.

A total of 668.73 million masks were requisitioned, and 607.66 million were distributed — 349.52 million for purchase with National Health Insurance cards, 127.08 million to healthcare facilities, 28.36 million to central government agencies, 33.2 million to local government agencies, 21.5 million to schools and for national exams, and 48 million to industries.

Another 40.07 million masks, including 25.04 million adult ones and 15.03 million for children, are in stock at post offices nationwide, and 21 million masks are being kept as a backup reserve at the CDC, the minister said.

Chen said the requisition of domestically produced masks and surgical masks, which was scheduled to end on April 30, has been extended until the end of June.

The CECC might also consider a flexible policy for the requisition or export of N95 respirators and protective clothing, allowing manufacturing companies to sell a small proportion, such as 10 percent, of their products to other nations after the demand in Taiwan is secured, he said.

This could be an incentive to boost their efficiency, he said.

Amid complaints from parents that their sons are refusing to wear pink masks to school for fear of being ridiculed by classmates, all the CECC officials taking part in yesterday’s news conference — all men — wore pink masks.

People should wear masks of any color, Chen said, adding that he liked the Pink Panther when he was young, and pink is a good color for boys or girls.

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title: Virus Outbreak: Five new cases all imported


title: Virus Outbreak: Virus test kit production likely by July

content_text:
QUICK ACTION:
 Researchers are working on two other types of rapid screening kits, as well as on a potential vaccine for the treatment of COVID-19 patients, officials said

By Chen Yu-fu and William Hetherington / Staff reporter, with staff writer

A COVID-19 rapid testing kit developed by the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) should be ready for mass production as soon as July, officials announced yesterday.

The kit, which works by testing nucleic acids, can produce results within one hour, Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs Lin Chuan-neng (林全能) told a news conference at the Executive Yuan in Taipei, adding that this brings researchers one step closer to developing a vaccine.

The government has invested NT$2.16 billion (US$71.7 million) in the testing, treatment, prevention and research of the disease, National Health Research Institute (NHRI) president Liang Kung-yee (梁賡義) said.

An official holds a prototype of the COVID-19 rapid testing kid developed by the Industrial Technology Research Institute at a news conference yesterday at the Executive Yuan in Taipei.
 Photo: Chen Yu-fu, Taipei Times

The nation is developing three testing methods, he said.

The first involves testing nucleic acids, which was the focus of the research at the ITRI, he said.

Another method involves testing nucleocapsid and spike proteins, which is being developed by researchers from Academia Sinica and the NHRI, he said.

That test could produce results in 15 to 20 minutes, and might also be ready for mass production by July, he said.

Nearly 20 companies attended an information session held by Academia Sinica and the NHRI to present their research, five of which expressed an interest in producing the test, he said.

The third type involves testing antibodies produced by the human body, and could be used on patients in recovery, he said.

Research on this method, which can produce results in 15 to 20 minutes, is being done at Chang Gung University in Taoyuan, he said, adding that mass production could commence in October.

“It is possible that COVID-19 will mutate into a form of influenza,” Liang said, adding that a vaccine and effective medication for treatment would be crucial if that happens.

The NHRI and Academia Sinica had already produced a 10g sample of their testing compound and could go into production now, he said.

Researchers are also experimenting with a combination of the Japanese antiviral drug favipiravir and other drugs for the treatment of patients with mild to moderate symptoms, he said.

The drug’s effectiveness against COVID-19 is being compared with that of another antiviral medication, remdesivir, and a synthesized drug has shown promise, he said, adding that companies have shown an interest in producing it.

A third drug, quinine — which is commonly used to treat malaria and babesiosis — has also shown promise in the treatment of COVID-19 patients with mild symptoms, he said.

Moreover, researchers have been separately developing six possible vaccines since late January and hope to arrive at a solution by the end of next month.

“If everything goes smoothly, we could see clinical trials by the end of the year,” he said.

“Several countries have expressed hope to work with Taiwan to produce a vaccine and rapid test,” he said.

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title: Taiwan oil millet touted as a potential superfood

content_text:
EASY CROP:
 A farmer said the plant, which looks similar to wheat, yields three harvests per year and despite its resilience, needs to be protected from birds and weeds

Taiwanese oil millet, an endemic plant species, could be a superfood, providing high nutritional value to humans and livestock, Academia Sinica researcher Hsing Yue-ie (邢禹依) said yesterday.

Eccoilopus formosanus is extremely resilient, able to survive droughts, colds and salinized soil, said Hsing, who is also a professor of agronomy at National Taiwan University.

It is easier to grow than most major high-yield crops — such as rice, wheat, corn, cassava or sorghum — the production of which is reliant on heavy irrigation, herbicides and fertilization, but Taiwanese oil millet does not require that much effort, she said.

Some bed-and-breakfast owners in Taitung participating in her research used the plant and yeast used by Aboriginal cultures to make bread and bagels, which were widely favored by guests, she said.

Chiu Kuei-chun (邱貴春), a farmer who has grown Taiwanese oil millet for five years, said that the plant looks similar to wheat.

Bunun Aborigines mix it with crops such as quinoa, millet and rice, Chiu said.

It is a perennial crop that can yield three harvests per year, with each harvest lasting about a week, he said.

Despite its resilience, the plant can fall victim to birds, Chiu said, citing the first harvest of the crop on his farm this year.

Sparrows feeding on the plant resulted in an extremely low yield, he said.

Weeds are another risk factor, as young plants cannot compete with them, which makes weeding necessary, he said.

Hsing said that her research team is conducting extensive research on the plant in the hope that its special qualities could allow more applications.

For example, the team is developing a sunscreen based on the plant’s tolerance for salt, she said.

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title: Fire department honors retiring dog at ceremony

content_text:
By Yao Yueh-hung, Tang Shih-ming and Dennis Xie / Staff reporters, with staff writer

The Taipei City Fire Department honored a retiring rescue dog at a ceremony yesterday and extended its appreciation to the person who adopted the German shepherd.

The dog, named Humble, received an honorary medal for its contributions to disaster relief at a ceremony, at which the department and the adopter, surnamed Lee (李), signed adoption papers, department commissioner Wu Chun-hong (吳俊鴻) said.

The department said it hoped the ceremony would draw attention to rescue dogs and their post-retirement adoption, a practice it began in 2015, Wu said.

Retired rescue dog Humble, front, poses for a photograph with Taipei City Fire Department commissioner Wu Chun-hong, right, at a ceremony in Taipei yesterday.
 Photo: Yao Yueh-hung, Taipei Times

Space and resources at the department are limited, so retired dogs would be better taken care of with adopted families, he said.

Every year, the department evaluates the housing conditions of people who apply to adopt and determine the best candidate, he said, adding that Lee is a canine-loving person who can offer great care.

The job of rescue dogs, due to demanding work environments, requires a lot of stamina, so they usually serve four years at most, or until they reach seven or eight, but they are always in great health, Wu said.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of the Interior’s National Fire Agency yesterday began accepting adoption applications for five of its rescue dogs that are retiring this year.

They are eight-year-old Chiang Chiang, 10-year-old Hope, seven-year-old Shin, eight-year-old Pumba and eight-year-old Nala, with the former four certified by the International Rescue Dog Organization and specializing in operations in debris, while Nala is responsible for testing whether other dogs pay attention during training by disrupting them, the agency said.

They participated in major rescue efforts in Taiwan, such as the 2014 Kaohsiung gas explosions, the 2016 collapse of the Weiguan Jinlong complex in Tainan and an earthquake in Hualien in 2018 that killed 17 people and injured more than 200, it said.

People interested in adopting one of the dogs have to apply by Friday, it said, adding that more details are on the agency’s Web site.

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taiwan-subdivisions: 中壢 羅東

content_text:
The Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) yesterday announced that it would expand a subsidy program to include highway bus operators, who have lost a substantial number of passengers as the nation tightened its disease-prevention measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

Minister of Transportation and Communications Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) made the announcement during an inspection at the Taipei City Hall Bus Station to see how bus operators have been enforcing the government’s disease-prevention measures.

The nation should thank and support bus operators for having fulfilled their corporate responsibility by guarding the first line of defense in the mass transportation system, Lin said.

A worker disinfects a bus at the Taipei City Hall Bus Station yesterday.
 Photo: CNA

While the ministry has ensured that bus operators receive masks and alcohol disinfectant to help combat the spread of the disease, the operators went further by starting to take the temperature of passengers as soon as the disease spread to the nation, he said.

There has been no confirmed case of a person contracting the coronavirus from taking a bus, he added.

Bus operators’ disease-prevention efforts have helped people in the nation to live a relatively normal life, compared with those living in other parts of the world affected by the pandemic, Lin said.

“Taiwan is now recognized by countries around the globe for its success in curbing the spread of the coronavirus, which is a result of collective efforts. We have to do everything we can to keep it that way until everything returns to normal,” he said.

Lin said that freeway bus operators have seen their passenger numbers drop by more than 90 percent, while highway bus operators have lost about 40 percent of their passengers.

Inner-city buses experienced smaller losses, as commuters still need to take the bus for work and other practical purposes, he said.

Rather than waiting for funds from the government’s special budget for businesses affected by the pandemic, Lin said that the Directorate-General of Highways has subsidized 280 airport shuttle buses since March 19, when the nation started restricting the arrival and departure of international passengers, with each bus receiving a monthly subsidy of NT$10,000 (US$332) for three months consecutively.

The subsidy program would be further expanded to include highway bus operators to cover 3,500 buses operating on 186 routes, Lin said.

The highway agency has also stipulated the criteria whereby the subsides would be administered, he added.

Bus routes that have lost more than 50 percent of their passengers would receive a monthly subsidy of NT$30,000 per bus, while those that have seen a decline of 30 to 50 percent would receive a monthly subsidy of NT$20,000 per bus.

Bus routes whose passenger volume has declined 20 to 30 percent would receive a monthly subsidy of NT$10,000 per bus.

Bus operators would receive subsidies for three months consecutively.

The budget for the subsidy program would be about NT$230 million, Lin said.

Five airport shuttle bus operators have also seen their passenger numbers decline 95.6 percent since March 19, compared with the same period last year, statistics provided by the bus operators showed.

Bus operators in Taipei and New Taipei City have lost 70 percent and 90 percent of their passengers respectively, while those based in Taoyuan’s Jhungli District (中壢), Hsinchu, Taichung and Yilan County’s Luodong Township (羅東) have seen their passengers decrease 99 percent, the statistics showed.

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title: Virus Outbreak: MOTC to help highway bus firms


content_text:
‘BRIGHT FUTURE’:
 Kim Yo-jong was reinstated to her post as an alternate politburo member, and her role should continue to expand, an analyst said

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un raised the standing of his sister as a key player in the secretive state and bolstered his new foreign minister in a cadre shuffle that comes as he tries to fend off the COVID-19 pandemic.

Part emissary, part personal assistant, Kim Yo-jong was reinstated to her position as an alternate politburo member of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea, state media said on Saturday.

The move returned her to the powerful decisionmaking body after she left the post in April last year and follows a series of roles since that included responding to overtures from US President Donald Trump.

A photo released yesterday by the North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, center, attending a meeting of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea in Pyongyang.
 Photo: EPA-EFE / KCNA

“Her media profile over the years suggests that her profile will continue to rise and that her role will continue to expand,” said Rachel Minyoung Lee, a former North Korea analyst with the US government.

North Korean Army Chief of Staff General Pak Jong-chon, former head of the army’s artillery division, was also named a full member of the politburo, while Minister of Foreign Affairs Ri Son-gwon, a former army officer who once led talks with South Korea, was named an alternate member.

“Pak’s quick promotion and Ri’s lower position in the Political Bureau seem to reflect Kim Jong-un’s policy priorities — national defense, with an emphasis on artillery over diplomacy,” Lee said.

North Korea held two major events over the weekend, with Kim Jong-un overseeing a meeting of the politburo on Saturday addressing the “danger” of the coronavirus pandemic. Its rubber-stamp parliament met on Sunday to implement the national budget.

While North Korea claims it has seen no coronavirus infections, the pandemic has put new pressures on the regime, which could see its antiquated and underfunded medical system overwhelmed by an outbreak. Kim Jong-un brought his already isolated country to a near standstill by sealing the borders in January to stop the virus, which halted the trickle of legal trade and tourism.

Meanwhile, he has kept his weapons program churning, test-launching nine short-range ballistic missiles last month — a monthly record.

Kim Yo-jong was thrust into the global spotlight when she served as envoy to the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, and became the first member of the immediate ruling family to visit Seoul.

Last month, she provided the regime’s response to a letter from Trump, saying that her brother’s “very excellent” relationship with the US leader was not enough to offset broader differences between the two sides.

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title: Kim Jong-un raises sister’s profile with politburo position


content_text:
NONCOMPLIANCE:
 The corporation’s Pouyuen Vietnam Co Ltd unit reportedly did not guarantee that its 70,000 workers kept a safe distance from one another

Pou Chen Corp (寶成工業), the world’s largest maker of athletic shoes, has been ordered to temporarily shut down a Vietnam unit over COVID-19 concerns, Vietnamese state media reported yesterday.

Pouyuen Vietnam Co Ltd must suspend production for two days from today after failing to meet local rules on social distancing to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, Tuoi Tre newspaper reported.

“The suspension of Pouyuen Vietnam is necessary to ensure public health, as well as the operations of the company,” Ho Chi Minh City Mayor Nguyen Thanh Phong, was quoted as saying.

The report said the company, which has about 70,000 employees and operates three shifts a day, has failed to ensure that its workers maintained a safe distance from one another.

Ho Chi Minh City earlier sought the Vietnamese prime minister’s approval to suspend production at Pouyuen Vietnam Co Ltd.

Authorities for the metropolis, which has the most confirmed virus cases in the country after Hanoi, were concerned that the outbreak would affect not only the workers, but those at neighboring firms and four bordering provinces, the mayor said on Saturday in a letter to Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc that was seen by Bloomberg News.

The mayor’s office confirmed the authenticity of the letter.

Pou Chen is the largest branded athletic and casual footwear producer in the world, and a manufacturer for international brands such as Nike Inc, Adidas AG and New Balance Athletic Shoe Inc among others, the company says on its Web site.

The group produces more than 300 million pairs of shoes per annum, it says, accounting for approximately 20 percent of the combined wholesale value of the global branded athletic and casual footwear market.

Ho Chi Minh City last week issued a set of indicators to assess the infection risk of companies based there in an effort to curtail the outbreak.

A firm is required to cease operations if it scores more than 80 percent, the mayor said in the letter, adding that Pouyuen was graded at 81 percent.

The firm would comply with the decision and extend the suspension if the 15-day national social distancing order imposed on April 1 is not lifted tomorrow, the letter said, citing a company leader who met authorities on Friday last week.

Vietnam had 262 COVID-19 cases as of yesterday, including 144 people who have recovered, the Vietnamese Ministry of Health said.

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title: Pou Chen ordered to halt Vietnam ops


title: Apple planning iPad-like design for the next iPhone

content_text:
Apple Inc is preparing a redesign of its top-tier iPhones, borrowing cues from the latest iPads, as part of a major fall refresh that would see 5G added to as many as four new handset models and the release of two key new accessories, people familiar with the plans said.

This year’s successors to the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max are to be joined by two lower-end models to replace the iPhone 11.

At least the two high-end devices would have flat stainless steel edges instead of the current curved design, as well as more sharply rounded corners like the iPad Pro introduced in 2018, said the people, who asked asking not to be identified because the plans are not public.

Reminiscent of the iPhone 5 design, the new handsets would have flat screens rather than the sloping edges on current models, the people said.

Because of disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, at least some of the new iPhones could be released multiple weeks later than normal, although still within the typical fall window, people familiar with the launch plans said.

Apple has not informed suppliers of any significant delays, other people said, and its engineers are expected to travel to China and finalize product designs next month.

An Apple spokeswoman declined to comment.

The upcoming iPhone Pro models would include three cameras on the back, while the lower-end phones would continue to have two cameras, as with the current lineup, the people said.

Apple would add the 3D LiDAR system that debuted with the iPad Pro last month to its top-tier devices, setting the stage for advances in augmented reality applications, they said.

The highest-end new iPhone would have a screen slightly larger than the 6.5-inch panel on the iPhone 11 Pro Max. Apple is investigating removing the cutout at the top of the display for the selfie camera and Face ID sensors in future designs, and it is likely to reduce the size of that notch for this year’s models, they said.

All the phones are planned to include a significant upgrade to the processor with an emphasis on speeding up artificial intelligence and augmented reality tasks, the people said.

Since 2012, Apple has released major new iPhones each September, except for the release of the iPhone X in 2017, which came in November due to supply constraints.

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title: Worldwide PC shipments plunge 8% year-on-year

content_text:
Global shipments of PCs contracted 8 percent year-on-year last quarter, the largest decline since the first quarter of 2016, as the industry’s supply chain came under heavy pressure from the COVID-19 pandemic, Singapore-based market advisory firm Canalys Co said in a report on Friday last week.

While market demand for PCs has been boosted by worldwide lockdowns to contain the virus, shipments of PCs, including desktops, laptops and workstations, fell to 53.68 million units in the January-to-March period, as the pandemic hindered production and the flow of logistics, the report said.

“PC makers started 2020 with a constrained supply of Intel [Corp’s] processors, caused by a botched transition to 10nm nodes. This was exacerbated when factories in China were unable to reopen after the Lunar New Year holidays, ” Canalys research director Rushabh Doshi said in the report.

The slowdown in production was then met with a sudden acceleration in demand as companies were forced to equip a newly remote workforce, placing urgent orders for tens of thousands of PCs, Doshi said, adding that market demand from the consumer sector also rose as schools shut down, moving classes online.

Last quarter, the world’s top five PC vendors — Lenovo Group Ltd (聯想), HP Inc, Dell Inc, Apple Inc and Acer Inc (宏碁) — retained their rankings despite posting declines in shipments, Canalys’ data showed.

Apple was the hardest hit among its peers with shipments dropping 21 percent year-on-year to 3.22 million units.

The firm’s market share also dropped by 1 percentage point to 6 percent.

However, last quarter’s surge in market demand is unlikely to continue, as few businesses would be willing to spend on technology for their offices while consumers would have already updated their home PCs, the report said.

“A global recession has begun — businesses will go bankrupt, with millions newly unemployed. Even governments and large corporations will have to prioritize spending elsewhere,” Canalys analyst Ishan Dutt said in the report, predicting a significant downturn in demand for PCs this quarter.

With production plants having reopened and up to full speed in China, PC vendors would face the challenge of managing supply chains and production correctly, he added.

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title: PChome signs up for retail program

content_text:
The Ministry of Economic Affairs on Saturday approved e-commerce company PChome Online Inc’s (網路家庭) application to join a government program aimed at assisting local retailers to overcome the economic damage inflicted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

PChome and its subsidiary Ruten.com (露天拍賣), which operates a consumer-to-consumer platform, are among 23 e-commerce operators who have joined the program, the ministry said, adding that 54 companies had applied.

Hong Kong-based Pinkoi.com (果翼科技), Taiwan Rakuten Ichiba Inc (台灣樂天市場) and Shopee Taiwan Co Ltd (樂購蝦皮) were also approved, a shortlist released by the ministry showed.

While Momo.com Inc (富邦媒體) was not on the shortlist, the nation’s largest e-commerce operator said that it would seek to join the program at a later date.

The ministry earlier this month announced that it would allocate NT$100 million (US$3.32 million) from a special relief fund to help retailers expand their online sales channels.

The ministry estimated that about 1,000 retailers would benefit from the program by receiving up to NT$100,000 each in subsidies.

The subsidies are to be paid directly to e-commerce operators once retailers have contracted to use their services, which includes listing a minimum of 10 items online, the ministry said.

The program is part of several subsidies and relief efforts the ministry is planning to prevent local businesses from shutting down or shedding employees due to the coronavirus outbreak, Minister of Economic Affairs Shen Jong-chin (沈榮津) said.

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title: Virus Outbreak: Double-decker bus offering NT$50 rides

content_text:
By Tsai Ya-hua
and Jake Chung / Staff reporter, with staff writer

The Taipei Sightseeing Bus, the city’s double-decker tour line, is offering rock-bottom prices of NT$50 per ride from tomorrow until June 15, along with other promotional discounts, as it struggles amid a sharp decline in tourism due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Taipei Sightseeing Bus said it is collaborating with the Great Taipei Commercial area and Green World Hotels in the promotion.

Taipei Sightseeing Bus executive officer Hsu Hao-yuan (徐浩源) said that the promotional price is to be for single rides and four-hour rides, while day rides would enjoy an 80 percent discount.

People can get one free ride in their birth month, while up to two accompanying travelers can enjoy hop-on, hop-off service throughout the day for only NT$200, Hsu said.

The bus line’s collaborators would also offer discounts and other benefits, he said.

No one can predict how long the tourism industry will be in a slump, but the bus line should do its utmost to encourage people to spend, he said.

The buses are regularly disinfected throughout the day and medical-grade isopropyl alcohol is provided onboard, Hsu said.

Taking the temperature of passengers is mandatory, Hsu added.

People should wear a mask at all times on the buses and be attentive to hand sanitization, he said, adding that “social distancing” should also be practiced.

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title: Virus Outbreak: Ho Ching thanks Taiwan

content_text:
Ho Ching (何晶), wife of Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (李顯龍), yesterday updated a Facebook post, which had sparked controversy over the weekend, to thank Taiwan.

Ho on Saturday posted a link to a news article titled “Taiwan to donate medical masks to Singapore,” with the comment: “Errrr…”

The article reported that Taiwan would donate more than 1 million masks to countries targeted by the government’s New Southbound Policy, including Singapore, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam and India.

Her comment sparked an online discussion, with Internet users from Taiwan and Singapore questioning why Ho appeared to not appreciate the donation.

Ho yesterday updated the post, writing: “To all our friends and friends of friends in Taiwan, a huge thank you to all that you have done, and please know that I’m forever grateful.”

“We all know we are in this together as one world — and I’m totally grateful for every one which has reached out, advised, pointed the way, and tried their best to help, sometimes successfully and sometimes not,” she wrote in English.

“But that sincere effort and thought, regardless of success or failure, is what I will treasure forever,” she wrote.

“And mistakes? Also forgiven, lah!” she added, appearing to imply that she had “forgiven” a mask export ban that caused a Singaporean manufacturer to move its mask production lines from Taiwan back home.

“Hugs, everyone, and stop trying to beat each other up in cyber space,” Ho wrote, apparently referring to the responses to her initial comment.

“This is the least we can do, to respect all those who have lost their lives already, to help all those still fighting for their lives, and to fully back everyone from cleaner to doctor,” she said.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Joanne Ou (歐江安) said that the ministry has seen the updated Facebook post and had no comment on the matter.

Taiwan and Singapore have a long-standing and deep relationship, and relations between the two governments and people are close, she said.

The ministry urged people to cherish the hard-won friendship between Taiwan and Singapore.

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people: 邱志偉 高嘉瑜 高虹安 吳思瑤

content_text:
Virus Outbreak: Lawmakers call for measures to shield schools, students from outbreak’s effects

CHALLENGES AHEAD:
 The number of foreign students would decline due to the pandemic, while graduates might experience trouble finding jobs, Rosalia Wu said

Lawmakers on the legislature’s Education and Culture Committee yesterday called on officials to offer schools and students support to address long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

At a committee meeting attended by officials from the education and labor industries, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Rosalia Wu (吳思瑤) said a university relief plan proposed by the Ministry of Education assigns just NT$400 million (US$13.28 million) to dealing with issues that are already present.

The first and second relief packages to be rolled out by the central government lack a university relief plan with foresight, she said.

The number of foreign students in Taiwan is bound to decrease due to the pandemic, Wu said.

Taiwan is also facing a decline in fertility rate, she said, adding that as a result, schools would see a loss in income from tuition and other fees.

If the economy takes a hit, schools would also experience a loss in the income they generate from renting out their facilities due to fewer events being organized, she added.

Private donations and universities’ investments would also be affected, Wu said.

On the students’ end, the pandemic might mean fewer opportunities for them to work part-time or intern at companies, she said.

She proposed giving schools funding to create more part-time jobs on campus.

DPP Legislator Chiu Chih-wei (邱志偉) said that a structural shift might occur in the economy after the pandemic.

To help students plan their careers, the ministry’s Youth Development Administration should have an understanding of what labor demand and supply would look like in the future, he said.

The graduations in July might trigger a wave of unemployment in the nation, said DPP Legislator Kao Chia-yu (高嘉瑜), who asked Deputy Minister of Education Lio Mon-chi (劉孟奇) to predict the increase in youth unemployment following graduation season this year.

While no clear estimate is available yet, the government would not underestimate the impact, Lio said.

Meanwhile, Taiwan People’s Party Legislator Kao Hung-an (高虹安) cited news reports as saying that after the first case of COVID-19 infection was confirmed at National Taiwan Normal University, authorities only removed the patient’s three roommates from their dormitory, while other students on the same floor did not move to disease-prevention hotels off campus until the next day.

Although the ministry had issued prevention guidelines beforehand, there might be inadequacies in the way they are executed by schools, she said.

Lio said that once a confirmed case is reported at a school, the Central Epidemic Command Center takes over management of related efforts.

Kao said that the ministry should take the initiative to understand why a “gap” occurred in the response at the school.

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content_text:
FEELING THE PINCH:
 The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic began to show, with workers in the transportation sector reporting an average NT$2,000 drop in salary

The average monthly take-home wage in February increased 2.62 percent year-on-year to NT$42,317, but some sectors began to feel the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS) said yesterday.

The statistics agency shrugged off concerns about the 8.67 percent retreat in total pay to NT$49,505 after factoring in overtime and performance-based compensation, saying that the Lunar New Year holiday, when year-end bonuses are distributed, fell in January this year, accounting for the change.

The impact of the virus outbreak began to emerge in February, with wages and working hours for employees in the transportation and hospitality sectors being reduced, DGBAS Senior Executive Officer Chen Hui-hsin (陳惠欣) said by telephone.

“The situation is bound to deteriorate this month and beyond as the outbreak lingers,” Chen said.

Take-home pay shrank 6.76 percent and 3.82 percent respectively for people driving tour buses and working for airline companies due to a sharp decline in demand, she said, adding that delaying the start of the new school semester also dampened the need for transportation services.

On average, workers in the transportation sector reported a decrease of NT$2,000 in their monthly wage, Chen said.

People working for private education facilities reported a 2.5 percent reduction in pay, the agency’s survey showed.

The number of people employed shrunk by 12,000 to 7,981,000, the DGBAS report said.

Working hours for tour bus operators dropped by 4.2 hours and 2.4 hours for staff at hotels and restaurants, Chen said.

The manufacturing industry remained resilient in February, with the take-home wage declining a fractional 0.07 percent month-on-month, the survey showed.

The construction sector bucked the trend with a 1.38 percent increase from a month earlier, thanks to more working days, it said.

Government agencies have sought to create budgets for infrastructure projects to help shore up the economy.

The year-on-year increase in take-home pay had a lot to do with February having more working days compared with last year, Chen said.

The Lunar New Year holiday fell in February last year.

In the first two months of this year, average monthly take-home wages rose 2.11 percent to NT$42,338, while overall compensation increased 0.12 percent to NT$74,313, the survey said.

Adjusted for inflation, real take-home wages increased 1.26 percent, while total pay declined 0.71 percent, it said.

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title: Average monthly take-home pay up 2.62 percent


content_text:
Virus Outbreak: Christians celebrate a special Easter amid pandemic

Christians celebrated Easter Sunday isolated in their homes by the COVID-19 pandemic, while pastors preached the faith’s joyous news of Christ’s resurrection to empty pews. St Peter’s Square was barricaded to keep out crowds, while one Florida church drew a large turnout for a drive-in service in a parking lot.

The strangeness of this Easter was evident at the Vatican. St Peter’s Square, where tens of thousands would normally gather to hear Pope Francis, was empty. Francis celebrated Easter Mass inside the largely vacant basilica, calling for global solidarity to confront the “epochal challenge” of the pandemic, and urging political leaders to give hope and opportunity to people who’ve lost jobs.

Worldwide, families who normally would attend church in their Easter best and later enjoy festive group meals stayed home. Police checkpoints in Europe and outside closed churches elsewhere left the faithful watching services online or on TV.

Andrea Szabo reacts as her husband, Szabolcs Toth, not pictured, throws water at her during a traditional Easter celebration at home amid the coronavirus pandemic in Mezokovesd, Hungary, yesterday.
 Photo: Reuters

Some US pastors went ahead with in-person services, despite state or local bans on large gatherings.

At the Happy Gospel Church in Bradenton, Florida, about 100 vehicles carrying 250 people gathered in the parking lot to hear Pastor Bill Bailey’s Easter sermon. Some sat in lawn chairs or on tailgates, but families stayed at least 1.8m apart; those in their vehicles occasionally honked to convey agreement with Bailey’s remarks.

In Louisiana, a pastor who is facing misdemeanor charges for holding services despite a ban on gatherings, said people from every state and all but one continent attended his Easter service on Sunday morning.

“My hope is not in a vaccine for a virus, but all my hope is in Jesus,” Reverend Tony Spell said during the service shown online at Life Tabernacle Church in the city of Central.

Worshipers could be heard clapping, singing and responding “Amen” during the service, though it was not clear how many attended.

US President Donald Trump had said he planned to watch an online service led by Reverend Robert Jeffress of the Southern Baptist megachurch First Baptist Dallas, although the White House would not confirm whether he did. The pastor, a staunch ally of the president, mentioned Trump in his remarks.

“We are going to get through this crisis with your continued strong leadership and the power of God,” Jeffress said.

In their own Easter message, Trump and his wife, Melania, paid tribute to the medical professionals, first responders and other essential workers striving to combat the pandemic.

In New York City, the epicenter of the pandemic in the US, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who led a televised Mass, said he was pleased congregants could have a virtual celebration.

“We miss you though,” he added. “We’d rather you be here physically.”

In the morning, members of churches from across New York sang Christ the Lord is Risen Today from balconies and windows.

“Even if you didn’t hear everyone, God heard everyone,” said Kathy Keller, of Reedemer Presbyterian Church, who helped organize the event online.

In Europe, countries used roadblocks, fines and other tactics to keep people from traveling over an Easter weekend with beautiful spring weather.

The Italian government said weekend police patrols resulted in more than 12,500 people being sanctioned and 150 facing criminal charges of breaching lockdown measures.

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content_text:
By Lai Wen-hsiu and Jake Chung / Staff reporter, with staff writer

People should consider their options thoroughly before getting a pig as a pet, as it is a very different experience from caring for more traditional household animals, a pet adoption service said last month.

Typical misconceptions about pigs are that they are dirty, smelly and germ-ridden, but these ideas are rooted in the human psyche, said a founding member of the Happy Pigs’ Home adoption service, who asked to be identified as Anita.

People’s perception of pigs is key to whether the pigs feel happy, Anita said, adding that potential owners must fully understand what a pet pig would mean to the household.

Bai Ji Elementary School principal Wang Lien-chin walks the school’s pet pig in Taoyuan on Dec. 30, 2015.
 Photo: Lee Jung-ping, Taipei Times

Families with elderly or young members should be careful, as their slower reaction times could lead to injury with a pig in the home, she said.

Pigs are extremely territorial and tend to only recognize one master for life, which could cause friction between couples, Anita said, adding that some couples have argued and even divorced over a pet pig.

Potential owners should consider emulating owners abroad and have their pigs sleep with them, she said.

Blankets are essential, as pigs do not have much hair to keep them warm, she said.

Owners should not leave food lying around and might even need to chain up their refrigerators to prevent their pet from accessing it, Anita said.

As sound pollution can be an issue, people who live in less urbanized areas or have sound-proofed homes would be more suited to owning a pet pig, she said.

Pigs are known to distance themselves from owners who cage them and as they grow and become unruly, they require larger enclosures, which generates a vicious cycle, Anita said.

Pigs are very clean, she said.

They do not have a strong body odor and prefer not to defecate where they sleep, she said, adding that the stereotypical view of dirty and smelly pigs is because owners fail to clean them.

Pigs do have a propensity to play in mud and are liable to become dirty when going outside, she said, but added that they are easy to clean because they do not have much hair.

Pigs are omnivorous, and their diet should comprise of roots, leaves, fruit, oatmeal and olive oil, Anita said, adding that piglets under three months old also need milk.

Powdered milk is also acceptable, she added.

For owners, medical fees are the prime expense, Anita said, citing the sterilization of female pigs as an example.

The surgery, which should be done by a veterinarian familiar with pig anatomy, plus the anesthetic — which must be given according to a pet’s size — means the procedure is more expensive than for more common pets, Anita said.

Pig owners should neuter or spay their pets when they are little, she said.

Pet pigs enjoy interacting with their owners and demand a lot of attention, she said, adding that they also need periodic walks, as this helps their digestion.

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title: Group warns pigs not easy to keep as pets


content_text:
Fixed-asset investments by the local manufacturing sector in the fourth quarter of last year increased 41.3 percent year-on-year to NT$474.9 billion (US$15.77 billion), as more firms with overseas operations invested at home, the Ministry of Economic Affairs said on Friday last week.

Investments in fixed assets, such as plants and production equipment, in the final quarter of last year hit a new high, the ministry said, adding that the manufacturing sector was keen to develop emerging technologies, such as 5G applications and artificial intelligence, to further boost investments.

It was the sixth consecutive quarter manufacturers have posted a year-on-year increase in combined fixed-asset investments, Department of Statistics Director-General Wang Shu-chuan (王淑娟) said.

The pace of growth was the highest since the third quarter of 2010, when the increase stood at 45.06 percent, Wang said.

Machinery and related equipment accounted for 84.9 percent of total fixed-asset investments, up 50.5 percent from a year earlier, ministry data showed.

The electronic components industry topped the list of sectors by investing NT$320.1 billion in fixed assets, up 54.6 percent year-on-year and accounting for 67.4 percent of the total.

The growth largely reflected semiconductor makers investing in advanced processes and printed circuit board producers expanding their capital expenditure, Wang said.

The computer and optoelectronic sectors invested NT$15.2 billion in fixed assets during the quarter, up 14.9 percent year-on-year, as a US-China trade dispute prompted many firms to relocate their production back to Taiwan, the ministry said.

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title: Fixed-asset investments hit new high: ministry


content_text:
The Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) is investigating whether Hua Nan Securities Co (華南永昌證券) had problematic internal controls regarding its investments and might impose a fine if it did, commission Chairman Wellington Koo (顧立雄) said yesterday.

“It seems that the securities firm did not stick to its hedging strategy and thus suffered greater risk exposure than its risk appetite line,” Koo told a meeting of the legislature’s Finance Committee in Taipei.

The commission has asked the securities arm of state-run Hua Nan Financial Holding Co (華南金控) to submit supplementary information after receiving the firm’s review report, Koo said.

The commission would address the matter based on the Securities and Exchange Act (證交法), which allows the regulator to dismiss the securities firm’s board of directors, supervisors or management team, suspend its operations or impose a fine of up to NT$4.8 million (US$159,363), he said.

Hua Nan Securities on March 24 reported losses of NT$3.4 billion as a result of unsuccessful transactions of derivative warrants.

The figure increased to NT$4.75 billion for the whole of last month, it said in a filing with the Taiwan Stock Exchange last week.

As a result, Hua Nan Financial reported a net loss of NT$3.59 billion for the month, its first loss since December 2010, Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Chiang Yung-chang (江永昌) said.

Hua Nan Financial president Derek Chang (張雲鵬) last week said at a meeting at the Legislative Yuan that its subsidiary made three mistakes: selling more derivative warrants than its risk appetite allowed, selling them at the wrong time and paying too much in hedging costs.

The unit made a wrong hedging move against the local equity market again when the TAIEX rebounded late last month, causing its losses to grow, he said.

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title: FSC investigates Hua Nan’s controls

people: 江永昌 顧立雄


content_text:
Virus Outbreak: US faces ‘long, hard road’: Fed’s Kashkari

‘WAVES OF FLARE-UPS’:
 Kashkari said an 18-month strategy would be needed to address the pandemic and that small businesses would need additional support

The US’ economic recovery from the disruptions caused by the novel coronavirus outbreak would likely be a “long, hard road” in which some parts of the economy would periodically shut down and restart, US Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis President Neel Kashkari said on Sunday.

In an interview on CBS’ Face the Nation, Kashkari said that projections for a quick economic turnaround were overly optimistic unless a treatment for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, became available in the next few months.

“This could be a long, hard road that we have ahead of us until we get to either an effective therapy or a vaccine,” a CBS transcript quoted him as saying. “It’s hard for me to see a V-shaped recovery under that scenario.”

Kashkari is a voter this year on the Fed’s policy-setting Federal Open Market Committee. His comments came amid signals from US President Donald Trump that he wants to reopen the economy as soon as possible.

Trump on Friday said that he would unveil a new advisory group this week that would focus on the process of economic opening.

Unemployment has skyrocketed in the US over the past few weeks as state and local governments have ordered businesses to close their doors in a bid to contain the spread of the virus.

Public health experts have warned that the US death toll could surge to 200,000 over the summer, from 21,300 on Sunday, if unprecedented stay-at-home orders that have closed businesses and kept most Americans indoors are lifted when they expire at the end of the month.

Kashkari said that additional support is needed for small businesses beyond the US$350 billion provided in the coronavirus aid package passed in last month, but he was optimistic that the US Congress would approve more funding.

He added that he was looking toward an 18-month strategy to address the health and economic effects of the pandemic.

During that time, certain parts of the economy might close and reopen on a rolling basis, starting with workers who are at the lowest risk of infection, he said.

“We could have these waves of flare-ups, controls, flare-ups and controls until we actually get a therapy or a vaccine,” Kashkari said.

“It’s hard for me to see a V-shaped recovery under that scenario,” he said.

The US central bank has responded aggressively to blunt the effect of the coronavirus pandemic on the US economy, launching an unprecedented range of emergency programs to support as much as US$2.3 trillion in loans and slashing interest rates to nearly zero.

The Fed has more firepower to bring to bear if needed. Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland President Loretta Mester, also a voter this year, said on Friday that the central bank was “likely not done” in seeking ways to keep credit flowing in the economy.

“We’re always looking for things where if we have a tool to be able to do it, and if we think it’s needed, we’re going to do it,” she told an online forum hosted by the City Club of Cleveland.

Additional reporting by Bloomberg

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content_text:
PANDEMIC PAIN:
 Fubon Financial Holding Co was the exception, after its profit grew 83 percent to NT$8.12 billion last month while its peers slipped into the red

Four of the nation’s financial conglomerates posted net losses for last month due to volatile markets amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

State-run Hua Nan Financial Holding Co (華南金控) posted the largest loss of NT$3.59 billion (US$119.19 million), mainly attributable to its securities unit, Hua Nan Securities Investment Management Co (華南永昌證券), which lost NT$4.75 billion, a company filing with the Taiwan Stock Exchange showed.

The loss, a result of derivatives transactions, eroded the parent company’s net profit of NT$2.15 billion in the first two months of the year and resulted in a net loss of NT$1.44 billion in the first quarter.

China Development Financial Holding Corp (CDFHC, 中華開發金控) posted the second-largest loss of NT$1.59 billion, as its investment arm, CDIB Capital Group (中華開發資本), suffered a loss of NT$1.36 billion.

CDIB Capital, with NT$42.3 billion under management and direct investment of NT$30.9 billion in companies worldwide, said the overall value of its investments declined due to the bearish markets.

The last time the value of CDIB Capital’s investments fell was in the third quarter of 2018, a net loss of about NT$300 million, company data showed.

As the unit focuses on long-term investments and does not plan to sell its assets in the short term, it expects to recover when global markets improve, it said.

Another CDFHC subsidiary, KGI Securities Ltd (凱基證券), posted a loss of NT$411 million, while China Life Insurance Co (中國人壽), in which CDFHC has a 35 percent stake, posted a net profit of NT$1.41 billion, the company said.

CDFHC posted a net loss of NT$488 million in the first quarter.

Volatile global financial markets also negatively affected Taishin Financial Holding Co (台新金控) and Mega Financial Holding Co (兆豐金控), leading to net losses of NT$145 million and NT$1.56 billion respectively last month.

However, the two firms remained in the black in the first quarter thanks to profits made during the first two months of the year.

Other financial conglomerates with life insurance arms, which are highly sensitive to volatile financial markets, also reported year-on-year declines in profits.

Cathay Financial Holding Co (國泰金控) posted a net profit of NT$4.46 billion, a 9.8 percent decline; CTBC Financial Holding Co (中國信託金控) posted a net profit of NT$3.6 billion, down 2 percent; and Shin Kong Financial Holding Co (新光金控) posted a net profit of NT$571 million, a 70 percent plunge.

Fubon Financial Holding Co (富邦金控) was the exception, with its net profit growing 83 percent year-on-year to NT$8.12 billion.

The combined net profits of the nation’s 15 listed financial conglomerates declined 60 percent year-on-year to NT$14 billion last month, while first-quarter net profit remained flat year-on-year at NT$86.8 billion, data showed.

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title: Financial firms post losses on volatile global markets


content_text:
Virus Outbreak: Japan faces higher risk of job losses: survey

Japan could see new hirings slow and job losses increase, particularly among firms in the service sector struggling to cope with the intensifying pain of the coronavirus crisis, an analysis of survey data by a private think-tank showed.

Dai-ichi Life Research Institute conducted the analysis on the government’s confidence survey for last month, involving taxi drivers, hotel and restaurant staff, who are known as “economy watchers.”

The analysis, using a technic known as “text mining,” showed that the word “job” was frequently used in combination with the word “adjustment.”

The combination of the terms “hiring activity” and “stagnation” also appeared many times in the survey.

Both these combinations did not show up in the government’s February survey, a sign that the coronavirus might be forcing an increasing number of retailers to consider job cuts, Dai-ichi Life Research said in a report.

Words like “subsidies” and “consulting for [government] help” were also used in tandem with the term “jobs” as frequently as when the 2008 collapse of Lehman Brothers triggered a global financial crisis, the institute said.

“The pandemic may hurt manufacturers, but for this crisis, there’s a high chance non-manufacturers could lead the cycle where worsening business sentiment leads to fewer jobs,” Dai-ichi Life Research economist Takuya Hoshino said.

The economy watchers survey, released last week, showed that service sector sentiment hit a record low last month, as the coronavirus crisis prompted travel bans and hurt consumption in a major shock to the economy.

Japan’s jobs data for last month is to be released on April 28. The nation is on the cusp of a recession, as the outbreak adds to woes besetting an already fragile recovery.

The government last week declared a state of emergency in major population centers to combat the virus, urging citizens to stay at home, some facilities to shut down and restaurants to close early.

Movement of people around Tokyo Station fell 85.8 percent on Sunday from levels before the government’s state of emergency announcement on Tuesday last week, private big data firm Agoop said.

The number of coronavirus cases in Japan is at least 7,400, with 137 deaths, public broadcaster NHK said.

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title: Oil price row ends with historic deal

content_text:
DEAL BLOCKER:
 Mexico won a diplomatic victory, only having to cut 100,000 barrels, but its future inside OPEC+ is uncertain, as it is deciding whether to leave the alliance

The world’s top oil producers pulled off a historic deal to cut global petroleum output by nearly a 10th, putting an end to the devastating price dispute that brought the energy industry to its knees.

After a week-long marathon of bilateral calls and video conferences of ministers from the OPEC+ alliance and the G20, an agreement finally emerged to tackle the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on oil demand.

Prices rose about 1 percent to about US$32 a barrel in London after swinging wildly in the first few minutes of trading following the deal.

The focus now shifts to whether the cut will be enough to dent the massive glut that keeps growing as the virus shuts down the global economy.

The talks had almost fallen apart late last week — amid resistance from Mexico — but came back from the brink after a weekend of urgent diplomacy. US President Donald Trump intervened, helping broker the final compromise.

“Unprecedented measures for unprecedented times,” said Ed Morse, a veteran oil watcher who is head of commodities research at Citigroup Inc. “Unprecedented in historical discussions of production cuts, the US played a critical role in brokering between Saudi Arabia and Russia for the new OPEC+ accord.”

OPEC+ nations are to cut 9.7 million barrels a day — just below the initial proposal of 10 million.

“We have demonstrated that OPEC+ is up and alive,” Saudi Arabian Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman told Bloomberg News in an interview minutes after the deal was done. “I’m more than happy with the deal.”

The accord caps a tumultuous month when Brent crude, the global benchmark, plunged to its lowest in nearly two decades, falling toward US$20 a barrel.

Earlier this year, it traded above US$70 a barrel. OPEC+ ministers had to race onto a video conference call on Sunday, less than four hours before the oil market reopened, to close the deal.

Brent futures yesterday jumped 8 percent in the first seconds of trading in Asia, before dropping more than 1 percent in a rapid reversal.

By 8:13am in London they were up 0.8 percent again at US$31.72 a barrel.

The US, Brazil and Canada are to contribute another 3.7 million barrels on paper as their production declines and other G20 states are to contribute 1.3 million. Still, the G20 numbers do not represent real voluntary cuts, but rather reflect the impact that low prices have already had on output and would take months, perhaps more than a year, to come into effect.

Mexico won a diplomatic victory as it is only to cut 100,000 barrels — less than its pro-rated share, having blocked the deal since the plan was first revealed on Thursday.

Its future inside OPEC+ is uncertain, as it is expected to decide over the next two months whether to leave the alliance, delegates said.

The biggest winner appears to be Trump, who refused to actively cut US oil production and personally brokered the deal over phone calls with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi Arabian King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

Trump became the first US president to push for higher oil prices in more than 30 years, reversing his personal opposition to the cartel.

“I hated OPEC. You want to know the truth? I hated it. Because it was a fix, but somewhere along the line that broke down and went the opposite way,” Trump told reporters at the White House last week.

The production restraints are set to last for about two years, although not at the same level as the initial two months.

Copying the model adopted by central banks to taper off their bond buying, OPEC also plans to reduce the size of the cuts over time. After June, the 10 million barrel cut is to be tapered to 7.6 million a day until the end of the year, and then to 5.6 million through next year until April 2022.

The deal does not take effect until May 1, leaving OPEC+ countries, which have significantly increased production over the last month, able to continue flooding the market for nearly another three weeks.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc called the cuts “too little and too late,” saying they would only lead to an actual reduction of about 4.3 million barrels a day from first quarter levels.

“Ultimately, this simply reflects that no voluntary cuts could be large enough to offset the 19 million barrels a day average April-May demand loss due to the coronavirus,” the bank said in a report.

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content_text:
Virus Outbreak: Top US pork producer shuts key plant, warns of shortage

The world’s biggest pork producer is shuttering a major US plant indefinitely after a coronavirus outbreak among employees, with the company warning that closures across the country are taking US meat supplies “perilously close to the edge” of shortfalls.

Smithfield Foods Inc plans to idle its Sioux Falls, South Dakota, pork-processing facility, which accounts for 4 to 5 percent of US production, the company said in a statement on Sunday.

The move comes after state officials reported more than 200 cases of COVID-19 among plant employees, adding to a spike in infections that has seen hundreds of US meat workers get sick. Plants have been forced to shutter or reduce output.

A truck arrives at Smithfield Foods Inc’s pork plant in Smithfield, Virginia, on Oct. 17 last year.
 Photo: Reuters

“The closure of this facility, combined with a growing list of other protein plants that have shuttered across our industry, is pushing our country perilously close to the edge in terms of our meat supply,” Smithfield chief executive officer Ken Sullivan said in the statement. “It is impossible to keep our grocery stores stocked if our plants are not running.”

While it is unclear whether the employee infections have anything to do with the workplaces, the news exposes the vulnerability of global supply chains that are needed to keep grocers stocked after panic buying left shelves empty.

The shuttered plants and sick workers are adding to other disruptions caused by the virus that are making it harder for food to get from farm to table. Trucking bottlenecks and snarled port traffic have also contributed to why shoppers are seeing empty shelves.

The surge in cases has also raised concerns over worker safety. Deaths have been reported for employees at meat facilities owned by JBS SA and Tyson Foods Inc.

Laborers have, in some cases, staged walkouts to protest working conditions. In meat plants, stations on processing lines can be close together, creating challenges for social distancing. Workers also share break and locker rooms.

Smithfield, owned by Hong Kong-listed WH Group Ltd (萬洲國際), originally planned to shutter the South Dakota facility for three days.

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem asked for the closure to be extended to at least 14 days, saying in a letter to the company that it needed to “do more.”

The Smithfield facility’s 3,700 employees would receive pay for at least two weeks during the shutdown.

The company said that it would reopen the plant when it receives further direction from local, state and federal authorities.

“Unfortunately, COVID-19 cases are now ubiquitous across our country. The virus is afflicting communities everywhere. The agriculture and food sectors have not been immune,” Sullivan said. “We have continued to run our facilities for one reason: to sustain our nation’s food supply during this pandemic.”

Practically every food company has announced increased measures to protect employees, including meat giants such as Smithfield and Cargill. Companies are enforcing hand washing and spraying down plants and break rooms. Shifts are staggered and lunch breaks are taken alone.

It is a tricky balance for producers who are prioritizing worker safety, but are also trying to meet the huge surge in demand that the virus has unleashed.

While some producers have stepped up hiring to keep food supplies flowing, it is not easy to find workers, even with rising unemployment. The industry has struggled with a reputation of difficult working conditions since the days of Upton Sinclair, the American author who wrote of abuses in his 1906 novel The Jungle.

Producers often rely heavily on immigrant workers to fill jobs that middle-class Americans shun.

If more cases mount and an increasing number of plants are forced to idle, it is difficult to say what the tipping point will be in terms of supply shortfalls.

“We have a stark choice as a nation: We are either going to produce food or not, even in the face of COVID-19,” Sullivan said.

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