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Taipei Mayor: Getting ready to buy BNT vaccines
發佈於 2021-07-19 13:44:04
Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-zhe says the city is planning to buy mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, which means either Moderna (莫德納) or BioNTech (BNT).
Mayor Ko says the new vaccine should be a booster, and aims to fight against the Delta variant.
He also hints that he may make the purchase via the channel of Taipei-Shanghai Forum.
The Mayor says the estimated cost would be 4 billion NT, adding that the city may have to get loans from banks.
Noting that it’s just a plan and there’s no knowing whether it’ll succeed or not, Ko says his government is making the necessary preparations.
(JL)
Kaohsiung E Sky Mall Closed for Disinfection
發佈於 2021-07-19 13:44:04
Kaohsiung's E Sky Mall has been closed for disinfection today.
The shopping center located in Gu-shan District announced late last night that it would be shut down all day today for sanitizing (清毒).
The city's Department of Health says it received notification from New Taipei last night, that a confirmed COVID-19 patient had visited the shopping complex at the end of June.
Officials say the mall is being disinfected as a precautionary measures.
Kaohsiung has gone 17 consecutive days without seeing a local case of COVID-19.
(NS)
Kaohsiung Man Falls Unconscious After Vaccine
發佈於 2021-07-19 13:44:04
A Kaohsiung man has fallen unconscious (昏倒了) after receiving his vaccine.
The city's Department of Health confirms that the man in his 60s received an AstraZeneca vaccine on Saturday, and visited hospital emergency room on Sunday after feeling unwell.
Doctors found no irregularities, and the man returned home, only to suddenly fall unconscious that evening.
Medical officials say the man suffered a cardiac arrest, and is currently still in intensive care.
They say the patient does have a history of cardiovascular disease and other long-term illnesses.
Authorities have reported the case to the Central Epidemic Command Center, and are now investigating.
(NS)
Global Vaccine Inequity More Serious Than Previously Expected
發佈於 2021-07-19 13:44:04
Global health experts say they expected vaccine distribution to be unequal (接種率不平等) between rich countries and poor countries.
But no one thought it would get to this point - less than 1% of the world's poorest citizens have received a dose.
And experts say vaccines might not be widely available everywhere until 2023.
That's fueling more infections and variants that could keep the pandemic around longer.
The African Union's envoy for vaccine acquisition compared the inequity of distribution to "a famine, in which the richest guys grab the baker".
Most Of South Korean Warship's Crew Have Coronavirus
發佈於 2021-07-19 13:44:05
The number of infected sailors (水手) on a South Korean ship near East Africa has increased to 247.
It's the largest cluster for the country's military (軍隊) during the coronavirus pandemic.
The South Korean Defense Ministry said on Monday two military aircraft have been sent to bring back all 301 sailors aboard the destroyer "Munmu the Great".
Authorities suspect the outbreak may have started when the destroyer docked in the region to load goods in late June.
None of the crew has been vaccinated against the coronavirus, but health officials say the crew are all still in relatively good condition.
Meanwhile, South Korea has reported 1,252 new coronavirus cases today, the 13th straight day for South Korea to register more than 1,000 new cases.
Australia To Deport Commentator Hopkins For Quarantine Boast
發佈於 2021-07-19 13:44:05
Far-right British commentator Katie Hopkins will be deported (遣返) from Australia after saying on social media that she planned to break quarantine rules.
Hopkins traveled to Australia to appear in a reality television program and was in 14-day mandatory hotel quarantine in Sydney before filming was to start.
Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews said Hopkins would be deported after boasting on Instagram her intention to flout quarantine rules.
The network and production company behind "Big Brother VIP" said her contract to appear in the program has been cancelled.
Australia's two largest cities, Sydney and Melbourne, are under lockdown to contain a coronavirus outbreak caused by the more contagious delta variant.