Taiwan has one of the lowest coronavirus death counts in the world. Experts say that free and rapid testing, an effective quarantine and contact tracing system, wide availability of face masks, regular communication with the public, and enforcement for those who don’t follow social distancing rules have all helped the country reopen safely.
Taiwan—a country of more than 23 million people—had only 451 cases of coronavirus cases and seven deaths as of July 15, 2020, according to a CNBC article.
William Hsiao, K.T. Li Professor of Economics, Emeritus, praised Taiwan for acting quickly when the coronavirus first appeared, using an early warning surveillance system that helps inform policy decisions during infectious disease outbreaks. He also noted that people in Taiwan have a strong community-oriented mentality, in contrast to Americans’ tendency to be more individualistic. That has helped the country tackle the pandemic in a more unified way, with very few people declining to follow public health recommendations.
Read the CNBC article: How Taiwan beat the coronavirus