Experts believe that it is dangerous to downgrade and not to unblock, which is a bit like a gamble (Photo source: Taiwan's "China Times Electronic News")
's warning of the epidemic has also caused public concern. Many people, especially young people, have been demoted without the first dose of the vaccine. Where does the Taiwan authorities have confidence? Many netizens also began to discuss how long the second-level alert can last and whether it will rebound? Some experts have no choice but to say that this is a bit like a gamble.
epidemic prevention starts and falls to the second-level warning on the 27th.
micro unblocking, Taipei Ximending on the weekend. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Jiang Tingting
The Taiwan authorities' "Epidemic Command Center" announced yesterday that from July 27 to August 9, the epidemic prevention warning in Taiwan was reduced from the current third-level warning to the second-level warning, but they still had to wear masks throughout the whole process (except for diet), maintain a safe distance, and carry out real-name system.
epidemic prevention departments simultaneously announced the downgrade guidelines, including seven principles and three prohibitions, including wedding banquets and public memorials, including the beauty and body beauty industry, a total of 17 industries are under the loosening scope.
According to reports from Taiwan media, the loosening policy includes that supermarkets and stores can be open to dining indoors, or wedding banquets of 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors, but toasts are not allowed on each table. The tour group expanded from 9 to 50. If you cannot wear masks throughout the waters, you will not be open. For live performances, performers must attach a 3-7-day negative certificate before taking off their masks to perform. In addition, the beauty and body care industry and folk conditioning industry are also loosened, but the service of taking off a mask before face treatment is still prohibited.
In addition, the venues, industries and activities that are not open for the time being, including swimming pools, eight major industries, and religious activities at non-fixed locations such as surroundings and incense.
"Downgrade but not unblocked" was mocked "Four-nothing"
The words "unpaid leave" were posted in front of a restaurant in downtown Taipei. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Chen Jianxing
After the official announcement of the second-level warning in Taiwan, it attracted the attention of all parties on the island.
Among them, although the most popular one is downgraded to Level 2 warning, people still need to wear masks throughout the outdoors, which arouses dissatisfaction among the people. Some Taiwanese people angrily criticized the "four-no-sight policy" of "relegation but not unblocking" that is not qualified to be downgraded at all. Some people even found out the "epidemic warning standards and response matters" issued by the "Command Center" on May 11, questioning that the second-level warning clearly does not require wearing masks throughout the entire process, and the "Command Center" is simply slapping itself in the face.
Some netizens also complained that when they think that they have been downgraded, they have to wear masks when going out for a run, walk, buy water and drinks, and they cannot drink while walking. "Tell me that this is called downgrading, what kind of garbage level is downgraded." Some people also collapsed and complained that they could take off their masks and eat indoors, but they had to wear masks when they went outdoors to climb mountains and go out for a walk. It was a big deal. There were still many regulations after the downgrade. They had to bring a "check" when going out, otherwise they really didn't know if they were "illegal". Some netizens also said that although downgrading is a good thing, they are already worried about discussing the issue of "how long can the second level last?"
The DPP authorities are "gambling" again?
"micro-unsealed" Taipei street market. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Chen Jianxing
. The epidemic prevention prevention in Taiwan will be downgraded. Some people joked that this situation is "quasi-level two but micro-level three" and "downgraded but not unblocked, which is really an outstanding move." There are voices on the island that the vaccine coverage rate is low, especially most young people have not been vaccinated yet, and many of them have even been demoted before the first dose of vaccines are given. "Is it really optimistic?" "Where is the confidence to be demoted?" "The downgrade breaks out again, and then I will blame the young people for slacking off."
Even Lin Youchang, the Mayor of the Democratic Progressive Party, said that downgrade is a good thing, but why should there be time limits? If there is a situation in the epidemic, you can change it at any time. The authorities set a time limit, which will allow the public to force them to engage in "retaliatory" travel or meals during this period, which is very risky.
htmlOn the 223rd, Toxicology expert on Taiwan’s island, Zhao Mingwei posted a statement saying that “downgrade and unblock” is actually very dangerous. After all, Taiwan’s vaccine coverage rate is still low, so it cannot be ignored. It can only be said that this feels like a gamble.In addition, he also said that although he was reduced to level 2, he would still not use it in restaurants, eat in supermarkets, or go to night markets. Many Taiwanese netizens also said that no matter what the regulations are, or how much the epidemic warning is reduced, you still need to wear a mask to effectively protect yourself.related｜ New Taipei Unblocking the catering industry will not loosen
New Taipei Mayor Hou Youyi. (Photo/ New Taipei City provides)
Taiwan authorities announced the downgrade to the second level of the police force on the 27th. New Taipei Mayor Hou Youyi said on the 23rd that the epidemic in New Taipei is severe, and the downgrade must be opened in stages. In particular, the act of taking off masks must be finally unblocked. New Taipei City will keep catering places open for food, including supermarkets, shopping malls and wedding banquets.
Hou Youyi said that the downgrade process must be adjusted and opened in stages in stages, and the rolling review is carried out every week. The three principles of opening up in New Taipei City are first outdoors, then indoors, and strictly control the number of people. Finally, the behavior of taking off masks. Diet is the behavior of taking off masks.
Hou Youyi said that at this stage, because the catering business must take off masks, as long as you eat together, you will take off masks. New Taipei City will keep catering places open for food use, including supermarkets, store areas and wedding banquets. We will do a good job in epidemic prevention, and do a step by step, and still adopt the take-out method.
Comment | Taiwan’s people’s livelihood is difficult under the epidemic, what is the solution?
More than 700 lives have passed innocently, hundreds of industries have been hit hard, the livelihoods of ordinary people are worrying, and the people have suffered psychological trauma... Since the outbreak of the new crown epidemic in mid-May, the third-level epidemic prevention warning in Taiwan has been implemented for two months, and negative effects have continued to emerge. A large number of people suffer from unsustainable basic life and are suffering physically and mentally. The serious consequences of the DPP authorities' ineffective epidemic prevention and incompetent governance have caused the anger of the people on the island to grow stronger and stronger. On the Internet, on the media, and in ordinary alleys, people asked: When will the epidemic be fundamentally controlled? What is the solution to the economy and people's livelihood?
Due to the shortage of vaccines and the slow vaccination rate, the epidemic has not been fundamentally controlled for a long time, and the third-level epidemic prevention warning time in Taiwan has been repeatedly extended. The continued tight epidemic prevention measures have caused the economy and people's livelihood to suffer heavy losses, especially industries related to the "common people's economy". According to media reports on the island, some related industries and enterprises mainly rely on domestic consumption, catering and tourism have seen a decline of 80% or 90%, and there are even those who directly "return to zero". Many catering and snack shops can only close their doors and spend money on their own.
A series of data recently released by the DPP authorities intuitively reflects the great impact of the epidemic on the economy and people's livelihood. In May, the unemployment rate on the island rose to 4.11%, the highest since December 2013; the number of employed people decreased by 126,000 from the previous month, the largest drop since the survey in 1978; the number of unpaid leave implemented across Taiwan exceeded 30,000. Prices across Taiwan generally rose. In June, the prices of vegetables, fruits and eggs rose by 8.78%, 6.58%, and 11.46% year-on-year respectively. "More people die of starvation than those who die of illness" is a joke among the people, but it also reflects how difficult people's livelihood is. In addition to the superficial and easy-to-observe impact, the epidemic has also caused a severe blow to the public's psychology. Taiwan's United Daily News editorial pointed out that what the DPP authorities often neglect in making decisions is how much damage the physical and mental health of ordinary people may cause for two months of nearly confinement, such as physical fitness decline, increased depression, increased domestic violence, etc. Recently, a tourist bus driver in Wugu District, New Taipei City fell from the top of the 16-storey building and died after complaining about his family. Faced with this tragedy, Taiwan's China Times criticized the DPP authorities in an editorial titled "Save the Poor", for not knowing the risks and problems because of complacency, allowing the wrong policies to continue to "kill".
Faced with difficulties in people's livelihood, the DPP authorities were helpless and had to announce the loosening of some epidemic prevention measures and carry out "micro-unlocking". However, the people on the island and local counties and cities did not buy it. After all, the people have long lost trust and confidence in the DPP authorities, and are worried that the loosening of epidemic prevention measures will increase the risk of a resurgence of the epidemic. How to solve the current economic and livelihood dilemma? Public opinion on the island generally believes that the first thing to do is to control the epidemic, increase the vaccination rate, and establish an immune barrier, so that the people's livelihood economy can recover truly hope.But the reality is that the vaccination rate on the island is slow, and the coverage rate of one dose of vaccination has been only 20%. Taiwan's "Business Times" estimates that it will take six months to reach the basic threshold of 60% herd immunity on the island. The newspaper described the current Taiwan as a "stewing pot", full of collective anxiety, which has further hit the long-term economic and social development. Sheng Jiuyuan, director of the Taiwan Research Center of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, believes that European and American vaccines are both short and slow. The most fundamental solution is to introduce sufficient mainland vaccines as soon as possible to further learn from mainland epidemic prevention experience, make Taiwan's epidemic prevention policies more effective and targeted, and prevent a new round of epidemic outbreak.
Public opinion believes that Taiwan cannot escape from the mainland to escape; after the epidemic, exchanges between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait must resume as soon as possible. Taiwan's "Want Daily" editor pointed out that experiencing the DPP's absurd epidemic prevention policy and its illegal nature of violation of democracy have made more and more Taiwanese people recognize the true face of the DPP; the vast majority of people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait still hope for peaceful development across the Taiwan Strait and refuse to become victims of political forces. Only by restoring cross-strait exchanges and exchanges can the tourism, catering, consumption and other industries on the island recover their prosperity and practitioners can regain their livelihoods.
data shows that in the first half of this year, the total import and export volume of cross-straits was US$151.463 billion, a year-on-year increase of 34.8%; Taiwan's trade surplus with the mainland reached US$78.027 billion. Taiwan's China Daily comments hit the nail on the head: The DPP authorities have been working hard to "resist China" for more than five years, but the cross-strait economic and trade enthusiasm is still getting stronger and stronger, once again proving that political forces are difficult to reverse economic market forces.
The serious consequences caused by the epidemic can no longer be reversed, and it also exposes the various illusions created by the DPP authorities. Weng Xiaoling, associate professor at the General Education Center of Tsinghua University, Taiwan, published an article in a newspaper pointing out that the people have finally seen clearly that the authorities' epidemic prevention and control are full of political flavor and interest calculations, and they simply ignore the safety of the people's survival. Sooner or later, the people will pursue justice from those indifferent and ruthless cruel officials. If you can understand the voice of the people, the DPP authorities should put the people first, otherwise they will be betrayed by the public.
(Comprehensive compilation of Xinhua News Agency, Straits Guide, Taiwan's "China Times Electronic News")
