Just in case the leaders of Britain and the United States want to know what competent management of Covid looks like, Taiwan’s Digital Minister Audrey Tang explains how the island identified the Covid threat early and used, built and modified technical systems to deal with it effectively.
The leaders of Britain and the United States are warned that the content is a bit ‘sciency’ and ‘experty’ and they may find it harder to follow than Love Island. However, it is well worth watching.
Ms Tang’s explication begins at 12 minutes.
She explains the advantages of attentive research and using your brain after minute 14.
She explains the advantages of trusting your population around minute 16.
She explains the advantages of being honest, open and transparent about levels of PPE supply after minute 17.
She explains how to counter idiotic misinformation and establish facts after minute 23.
She talks about data privacy and quarantine monitoring after minute 26. And again at minute 39.
She explains why masks are important and offers to share the technology to make millions of them every day after minute 49. After minute 56 she again stresses the point that masks stop you touching your mouth and nose with potentially infected hands.
She makes several points about false dilemmas that may be presented in relation to Covid after minute 58.
She notes that mainland Chinese whistleblower Li Wenliang likely saved the lives of many people in Taiwan (because Taiwan was paying attention) and reminds us that what is most different about Covid-19 is asymptomatic transmission, after minute 63.
As of today, Taiwan has had just 486 recorded cases of Covid and seven deaths. Here are ongoing data.
Unfortunately Ms Tang’s slides do not appear on the video below.
Good luck Boris, Matt and Donald!