(Original source: BBC)
On the morning of 8 April, Taiwan Vice President Dr Chen Chien-jen, an epidemiologist by training, shared the country’s experience in containing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as well as illustrated Taiwan’s efforts to cooperate internationally to fight the pandemic in a videoconference interview with BBC’s Newsday programme. He began by expressing his wish that Prime Minister Boris Johnson get well soon and all the best for the people of the United Kingdom. Vice President Chen stressed the situation in Taiwan is quite good, with confirmed COVID-19 cases at 376 by 7 April, most of which were imported. In response to questions about what other countries can learn from Taiwan’s approach, the vice president highlighted the importance of taking very quick actions. The VP cited measures to combat the virus implemented by President Tsai Ing-wen, including holding a National Security Council meeting to coordinate and integrate all multi-ministry efforts, quickly announcing travel alerts, optimising border quarantine, reinforcing 14-day home quarantine, upgrading the country’s healthcare system for infectious disease, ensuring the adequate supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other medical materials, promoting health education and communication as well as accelerating the development of rapid diagnostic antivirus [test kits] and vaccines.
Vice President Chen highlighted how Taiwan’s previous experience with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) helped the country combat the spread of COVID-19. The vice president pointed out that after the SARS outbreak, Taiwan already had a comprehensive review and made amendments to its Communicable Disease Control Act, established a command system for communicable disease control, strengthened border quarantine capacity, set up a diversified communicable disease monitoring system, reinforced monitoring of densely populated institutions, implemented nosocomial infection prevention control policies and formulated response plans for emerging infectious diseases and conducted drills. “Prudent action, rapid response, and early deployment are very essential for this, and for a very good control of this pandemic,” the vice president stated.
The vice president also echoed President Tsai’s message on 4 April that Taiwan can help and Taiwan is helping, adding that out of humanitarian concern, Taiwan cannot stand by while other countries are in need of help. Vice President Chen highlighted Taiwan’s efforts to bolster cooperation with all countries and willingness to provide assistance to the international community in the areas of face masks, pharmaceuticals, and technologies. He cited Taiwan’s recent donation of 10 million face masks to support medical personnel in countries most severely affected by the disease, including the UK, as well as Taiwan’s assistance to the UK government in procuring critical materials and resources to contain the pandemic and protect frontline medical staff and citizens in the UK. In addition to Taiwan’s cooperation with the US in the fight against COVID-19, the vice president stressed Taiwan would also like to collaborate with the UK to improve the containment of the pandemic, and also to protect all the people in the world.