If Covid-19 had first emerged in Taiwan, the United States as another open society, it would have “gone very differently,” U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar told a Taipei teleconference on Wednesday.
“It would be reported to public health authorities who have shared this information with the public and with medical professionals, more importantly, it would be reported on time, accurately and transparently, under the international health regulation, under which Taiwan has a model of compliance when sharing information, ”said Azar.
Azar met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, Public Health and Welfare Minister Chen Shih-chung and members of the CDC of Taiwan to discuss Covid-19 during his three-day trip to the self-governing island, visiting the highest level by a U.S. cabinet officer in four decades.
“My visit to Taiwan is a recognition of the success in the fight against Covid-19, and a testament to our shared belief that open democratic societies are best able to combat infectious disease threats such as Covid-19,” Azar said. .
Criticism of China: Contrary to his praise for Taiwan, Azar was very critical of the way China handled the first outbreak.
“China could and should have made more information more transparent and cooperative about Covid-19,” Azar said. “They would have revealed … the rapid human-to-human transmission of the disease they knew about, they would have to reveal the asymptomatic carriage and transmission of the disease.”
Azar also accused China of delaying a month and a half in allowing foreign experts in the country to learn more about the disease, and pressured the World Health Organization to stop other countries from imposing border controls and travel restrictions.
“Even though China imposed internal travel restrictions, [it still allowed] their people to travel all over the world, including to Europe, so that then … travelers in Europe can spread diseases across the United States, ”said Azar.
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