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The coronavirus has the world in absolute dominance. The whole world? Not quite. While most countries are struggling to contain the second wave, Taiwan has just recorded the 200th day in a row without a locally transmitted corona case.
Taipei’s response to the coronavirus pandemic has been one of the most powerful in the world. The island of 23 million people reported the latest locally transmitted case on April 12! All infections that have occurred since then were entered. So far, 553 corona cases have been confirmed in Taiwan. Only 55 of these are local broadcasts. Only seven people across the country died in connection with a corona infection.
For comparison: Switzerland has around 8.6 million inhabitants and has recorded more than 154,000 confirmed corona infections and more than 2,000 deaths since the start of the pandemic.
First measures at the end of December
Despite its brilliant crown record, Taiwan has never imposed drastic bans on the country. According to a CNN report, the deciding factor was how quickly authorities reacted to China’s first rumors of a mysterious lung disease in late December 2019.
Taiwanese authorities began screening passengers on direct flights from Wuhan, where the virus was first identified, on December 31, 2019.
The first corona case nationwide was confirmed on January 21. As a result, Wuhan residents were barred from entering Taiwan. All passengers arriving from mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao had to undergo screening.
These measures were in place before the Chinese government cordoned off Wuhan on January 23. In March, Taiwan also banned all foreigners from entering the island. The only exceptions were diplomats and people residing in Taiwan or on special entry visas.
Learned from experience with the Sars epidemic
Taiwan had learned from the experience of the 2003 Sars epidemic. The government steadily expanded capabilities to deal with a pandemic in subsequent years. Chancellor Joseph Wu recently said in an interview: “When we heard that there were some secret cases of pneumonia in China where patients were being treated in isolation, we knew it was something similar.”
The authorities immediately activated the island’s central epidemic command center, which had been created after the Sars epidemic to ensure coordination between the various ministries. The government also increased production of masks and protective gear to ensure supplies were available. Taiwan also invested in massive testing, as well as fast and efficient contact tracing.
As an island, Taiwan also has geographic advantages that other countries do not have in the fight against coronavirus. This makes it easier for officials to control entry across borders. (noo)
