The example of Taiwan proves that the free flow of information is an important remedy for the coronavirus outbreak. The infection is spreading across most of the world, and the number of cases exceeds 160,000 people. The situation with coronavirus in Taiwan can be an example of how to deal with the virus. The island has seen minimal spread of COVID-19, despite close proximity and multiple ties to China, where the virus was first detected.
Coronavirus situation in Taiwan
It is believed that Taiwan has a modern and technologically advanced healthcare system that provides affordable, comprehensive services for the entire population of the island. User health data is stored in a centralized system accessible to hospitals and clinics, so doctors can quickly view their patients' history. Unlike rural mainland China, Taiwan has been a popular medical tourism destination for decades thanks to its state-of-the-art hospitals and doctors trained in the United States.
When the first news about the mysterious illness in Wuhan began to surface in December 2019, Taiwan reacted with the utmost urgency. There are many hundreds of thousands of Taiwanese working in China, which means there are a lot of flights and travelers between the country and Taiwan. The island now has only 67 reported cases, which is admirable in itself, especially when compared to its larger East Asian neighbours. Of this number of cases, a single case with a fatal outcome was recorded.
Protective measures to the region
Taiwan has followed stringent security measures since the outbreak in mainland China. Taiwan has been using thermal scanning of visitors arriving from overseas for a decade. This helps to simplify the process of verifying that there is only one main international airport in Taiwan.
The government has also implemented a purchasing policy whereby every Taiwanese can buy a set number of masks for adults and children per week from pharmacies and clinics for a fixed amount.
In Taiwan, most residents live as usual, with open offices and schools. Many restaurants, gyms and cafes in the nation's capital, Taipei, are still bustling, though most spaces are temperature-checked and require customers to wash their hands with sanitizer before being let in.
A few examples of what restrictions are in place in Taiwan to travel safely:
- Regular hand disinfection and personal hygiene.
- Minimization of being in public places.
- Foreign visitors to Taiwan who have visited China, Hong Kong and Macau in the past 14 days are prohibited from entering Taiwan.
- Foreign visitors to Taiwan who have visited Italy, South Korea, or Iran in the past 14 days must undergo a two-week quarantine in Taiwan.
Having been influenced by the US and Japan for the past century, Taiwan is more like Japan in its culture and standards of cleanliness than mainland China. There is no open litter, and food inspections are commonplace. Houses are usually kept clean and kitchens sterilized.
Educating the public about the risks of disease and precautions when using television notices and posters is also an important part of efforts to fight the coronavirus.
Is there a connection with mainland China
When China notified the WHO of a number of cases of an unknown viral infection symptomatically similar to pneumonia, Taiwan's regulatory authorities immediately began inspecting passengers arriving from Wuhan. A group of experts, despite disagreements with the Beijing authorities, was sent to the mainland to establish and analyze the facts of the outbreak of the virus. This happened at the beginning of January.
Taiwan has also faced political pressure and possible misinformation from China.
All flights and travel to Taiwan from China are prohibited. Chinese citizens are not allowed on the territory of the island. In addition, most flights from South Korea have been cancelled. A travel restriction imposed by Taiwan to help contain the coronavirus outbreak has created a new dilemma for Hong Kong protesters and dissidents seeking asylum on the self-ruled island.