Thread by @startupdaemon

How did Taiwan prevent a #coronavirus outbreak and collapse?

The answers will surprise you.

nbcnews.com/health/health-…

On Dec. 31, the same day China notified the World Health Organization that it had several cases of an unknown pneumonia, Taiwan’s Centers for Disease Control immediately ordered inspections of passengers arriving on flights from Wuhan.

And despite poor relations with Beijing, Taiwan asked and received permission to send a team of experts to the mainland on a fact-finding mission Jan. 12.

“They didn’t let us see what they didn’t want us to see, but our experts sensed the situation was not optimistic"

hortly after the team returned, Taiwan began requiring hospitals to test for and report cases. That helped the government identify those infected, trace their contacts and isolate everyone involved, preventing the virus from spreading to the community.

All this happened LONG BEFORE Taiwan confirmed its first case Jan. 21 and the rest of the world became alarmed.

“Taiwan has rapidly produced and implemented a list of at least 124 action items in the past five weeks - 3-4 a day - to protect public health,” Wang said in an email. “The policies and actions go beyond border control because they recognized that that’s not enough.”

Taiwan also took tough action early. Five days after it confirmed its first case, Taiwan banned arrivals from Wuhan, earlier than any other country.

Not long after, it did the same for flights from all but a handful of Chinese cities, and only Taiwanese were allowed to fly in.

Those coming from badly affected areas are put under mandatory 14-day home quarantine, even if they are not sick, and are tracked using location sharing on their mobile phone. Absconding can lead to heavy fines.

One man who didn’t tell the authorities he had symptoms after he returned from Wuhan and went to a dance club the next day was fined $10,000.

The authorities in Taiwan also quickly determine whom the confirmed cases had been in contact with, and then test them, and put them in home quarantine.

“They also proactively find new cases by retesting those who tested negative,” Wang said.

To ensure supply of masks, the government banned manufacturers from exporting them, implemented a rationing system and set the price at just 16 cents each.

It also set up new production lines and dispatched soldiers to staff factories, significantly increasing production.

The government also asked television and radio stations to broadcast hourly public service announcements on how the virus is spread, the importance of washing hands properly, and when to wear a mask.

Practically every office building, school and community sports center check temperatures and prevent anyone with a fever from entering. Apartment buildings also place hand sanitizer inside or outside elevators.

“Taiwan’s health insurance lets everyone not be afraid to go to the hospital. If you suspect you have coronavirus, you won’t have to worry that you can’t afford the hospital visit to get tested,” she said.

“You can get a free test, and if you’re forced to be isolated, during the 14 days, we pay for your food, lodging and medical care,”

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