Read on Twitter
It’s not about bragging, but sorrowful anger that so much of 2020’s horridness for friends around the world was avoidable.
How did #Taiwan ‘beat’ Covid-19 (with no lockdowns, little disruption, 7 deaths)?
A Collared Bush-Robin thread:
How did #Taiwan ‘beat’ Covid-19 (with no lockdowns, little disruption, 7 deaths)?
A Collared Bush-Robin thread:
1. Universal healthcare. It works well, catch up America!
2. Not trusting China. We’ve had decades to learn how our neighbor lies and spreads disinformation.
Sambar Deer in the central mountains.
2. Not trusting China. We’ve had decades to learn how our neighbor lies and spreads disinformation.
Sambar Deer in the central mountains.
3. SARS. The experience in 2003 gave us clues how to prepare, and what to look out for. We had a plan.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanwpc/article/PIIS2666-6065(20)30044-4/fulltext
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanwpc/article/PIIS2666-6065(20)30044-4/fulltext
4. Surgical masks. Even in normal times 1% wear them for multiple reasons - already normalized.
Production - and fair distribution - of them (comfortable & effective) ramped up in February.
Production - and fair distribution - of them (comfortable & effective) ramped up in February.
5. Electing an epidemiologist as vice-president in 2015.
#Taiwanese people valued the expert in the fight against SARS. Other free democracies could have learned.
Owling in a Taoist temple.
#Taiwanese people valued the expert in the fight against SARS. Other free democracies could have learned.
Owling in a Taoist temple.
6. Moving fast.
Overreacting at the start better than waiting for all the answers. Screening started in hours vs the UK’s months.
A Swinhoe’s Pheasant at the ready.
Overreacting at the start better than waiting for all the answers. Screening started in hours vs the UK’s months.
A Swinhoe’s Pheasant at the ready.
7. Clear & honest messaging from experts.
Delivered digitally, by cute dogs, and speaking garbage trucks. Misinformation tackled.
Delivered digitally, by cute dogs, and speaking garbage trucks. Misinformation tackled.
8. Very strict, and well organized, quarantine for arrivals.
Do it right and you can still have thousands fly in every day. No reseeding. Common sense contact tracing.
Then, go drink tea with friends.
Do it right and you can still have thousands fly in every day. No reseeding. Common sense contact tracing.
Then, go drink tea with friends.
9. Maybe a bit of luck, & trust.
China, afraid of its people seeing democracy in action, limited visits here in January...when we were re-electing a trusted government.
Grey Heron, but bright outlook. Stay safe.
China, afraid of its people seeing democracy in action, limited visits here in January...when we were re-electing a trusted government.
Grey Heron, but bright outlook. Stay safe.
And what we didn’t do:
• Lockdowns. Other than delaying reopening schools in spring (made up for later), and the border being restricted, most things have remained open. A few big events (esp in spring) were cancelled.
Sea of clouds. Sky of wisps.
• Lockdowns. Other than delaying reopening schools in spring (made up for later), and the border being restricted, most things have remained open. A few big events (esp in spring) were cancelled.
Sea of clouds. Sky of wisps.
• No mass testing. Only highly targeted, at higher levels more recently for international arrivals.
• Digital surveillance limited and bound by law - for those in quarantine, and untruthful spreaders. Could have been accepted in other liberal democracies. L
Taiwan Macaque.
• Digital surveillance limited and bound by law - for those in quarantine, and untruthful spreaders. Could have been accepted in other liberal democracies. L
Taiwan Macaque.
• It wasn’t all high-tech. A lot of the advice and support came from established on-the-ground local services.
• While mask usage has been very high, and 100% in many places throughout, there have been many less-strict loopholes - especially in summer.
Rocks.
• While mask usage has been very high, and 100% in many places throughout, there have been many less-strict loopholes - especially in summer.
Rocks.
• Social distancing really wasn’t a thing.
• Real-name registration (identity cards help) has been patchy.
• Hand washing has been very average.
Normality is close - it will return!
With/without #spiders.
• Real-name registration (identity cards help) has been patchy.
• Hand washing has been very average.
Normality is close - it will return!
With/without #spiders.
• “A compliant Confucian culture” - mostly nonsense. While there is a good level of social cohesion and trust, it’s due to good policies and education. Respect for authority has to be earned.
Have you seen our driving and legislators...we’re very far from perfect!
Have you seen our driving and legislators...we’re very far from perfect!
