Tsai talks Taiwan’s COVID-19 situation, calls for unity

2021/06/02

President Tsai Ing-wen said May 31 that the government is pulling out all stops in facilitating delivery of COVID-19 vaccines from abroad to safeguard the health and well-being of Taiwan’s 23.5 million people.
 
The pandemic situation is improving thanks to the cooperation of all segments of society over the past two weeks, Tsai said. The public is urged to continue following the guidelines set out by the Central Epidemic Command Center and make certain the fightback continues unabated, she added.
 
Tsai made the remarks during a special address livestreamed across various social media platforms from the Presidential Office in Taipei City.
 
According to Tsai, Premier Su Tseng-chang is leading the Cabinet in taking stock of available medical and human resources to guarantee Taiwan’s health care system is fully prepared to respond to changes in the pandemic.
 
At the same time, Tsai said, Taiwan is prioritizing the development of homegrown vaccines in light of serious imbalances in global demand and supply. It is a strategic priority to promote vaccine self-sufficiency so the country is not beholden to others, she added.
 
Tsai said it is important to note that the government will not sacrifice quality nor safety in fast-tracking the supply of domestic vaccines. Rest assured, the development process will continue being governed by strict regulations in line with international standards, she added.
 
Many civil organizations, private businesses and religious groups have expressed a desire to import vaccines, Tsai said, adding that such efforts are sincerely appreciated by the government.
 
Tsai said to ensure the authenticity, efficacy and safety of vaccines obtained via these approaches, two contact windows have been set up by the Ministries of Economic Affairs and the Interior to provide all necessary assistance.
 
Complementary measures, including a reservation system designed by Digital Minister Audrey Tang, are in the pipeline and will be rolled out soon, Tsai said. There are also plans to designate clinics, hospitals and other venues as vaccination stations, she added.
 
Tsai took the opportunity to thank the Legislature for passing amendments earlier in the day increasing the budget for relief measures. It is critical the people remain calm and unified, she said, adding that this is the best and only way of combating coronavirus and safeguarding Taiwan.


Source: Taiwan Today (https://taiwantoday.tw/index.php)