How Taiwan held off Covid-19, until it didn't
- 7 months ago
In December 2019, Taiwan‘s government learned that at least seven atypical pneumonia cases had been reported in Wuhan, China. Because of Taiwan’s proximity to China and the number of flights back and forth, it was expected to have the second-highest number of Covid-19 cases worldwide.
Instead, Taiwan has had one of the lowest Covid-19 death rates in the world. Thanks in part to a sophisticated digitized health care system, and a mandatory two-week quarantine for all travelers, life in Taiwan had gone on with relative normalcy. But then, in May 2021, a new wave of cases threatened the country’s success.
So how did Taiwan, the ninth-most densely populated nation in the world, avoid a more severe spread of a highly contagious virus for so long? And what lessons can be learned from their response to the outbreak?
This video was made possible by a grant from the nonprofit Commonwealth Fund as part of our Pandemic Playbook series.
Instead, Taiwan has had one of the lowest Covid-19 death rates in the world. Thanks in part to a sophisticated digitized health care system, and a mandatory two-week quarantine for all travelers, life in Taiwan had gone on with relative normalcy. But then, in May 2021, a new wave of cases threatened the country’s success.
So how did Taiwan, the ninth-most densely populated nation in the world, avoid a more severe spread of a highly contagious virus for so long? And what lessons can be learned from their response to the outbreak?
This video was made possible by a grant from the nonprofit Commonwealth Fund as part of our Pandemic Playbook series.