Inside Taiwan’s Response to COVID-19

Taiwan has emerged as a success story in the global battle against COVID-19, having had fewer than 500 cases and only six deaths among its roughly 23 million residents as of April 24, 2020.

It has been credited with taking early action to prevent the spread of the coronavirus as it emerged and for avoiding the lockdown measures many other countries implemented.

Taiwan’s Vice President Chen Chien-jen received a Doctor of Science degree in epidemiology and human genetics from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in 1982. On Friday, April 24, Vice President Chen joined Dean Ellen J. MacKenzie for a conversation about Taiwan’s early and effective response to the coronavirus. They discussed the specific measures Taiwan took to control the spread of the virus and how Vice President Chen’s public health training played a role.

Their conversation was preceded by brief remarks from Brent Christensen, director of the American Institute in Taiwan.

Webcast Guests:

Chen Chien-Jen, ScD ’82
Vice President of Taiwan

Ellen J. Mackenzie, PhD ’79, ScM ’75
Dean, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Brent Christensen, DMD, MA
Director, American Institute in Taiwan

More Information:

NOTE: Closed captions will be uploaded soon.

[Trowa]

good work Taiwan. We are all proud of you. Your democracy success is the beacon in the pacific region.

[sirene]

Very intelligent approach. Wishing all the best to Taiwan.
Note, he didn't say "we have done a good job....a very good job indeed" and he didn't say that "it will miraculously go away when the days get warmer". Less blah-blah-blah and more job done in Taiwan. I am impressed.

[chengyu]

Even as a mainland chinese, I really appreciate Taiwan's great job. I hope mainland china can one day be as good as Taiwan.

[joanne]

Well done Taiwan - an example for the world. Regards from New Zealand

[chrisshen]

Thank you 大仁哥, Mr. Vice President, as a world-renowned public health specialist, for gathering the public health experts as a great team and for your strong leadership in keeping Our country safe.

We are so lucky to have u as our Vice President. Thank u 大仁哥❤️

[willowyang]

Taiwan is very lucky to have Chen Chien-Jen as Vice President.

[eromedaniel]

Great leadership from Taiwan. Thank you to Johns Hopkins for sharing this interview with the public, and thank you to Taiwan for setting an example for the rest of us on how to deal with this pandemic:
1. Transparency and data sharing with your own people and the international community
2. Providing financial, shelter and food assistance for those who are socioeconomically disadvantaged and have to quarantine due to possible exposure
3. Contact tracing as well as effective and expansive testing
4. Expanding production lines for PPE and ensuring people can buy masks at low prices
5. International research collaboration

[lindarobin]

Well done Taiwan. You are doing a remarkable job and thank you very much help with all mask that you have donated.

[fjo]

Vice President Chen is a blessing for all our Taiwanese. We trust his leadership and he really does his best to make Taiwan a better place.
Thanks for Johns Hopkins and pray for all Americans. Together we can overcome this pandemic!

[shaber]

It is especially sad that Bruce Aylward, a senior leader of the WHO, couldn’t bring himself to even utter the word Taiwan when specifically asked by a Hong Kong journalist about Taiwan’s exemplary timely and effective response to the developing Covid-19 epidemic. As a Canadian I am ashamed that official Canada continues to pretend that Taiwan doesn’t exist, and chose — and continues to choose — not to avail itself of the experience and expertise of a fellow democracy that is on the front line.

[AnonyMous-xdxq]

To get subtitles in English, click the 3 dots in the upper right corner, select CC English.
Thank you, Johns Hopkins and Taiwan. This is so informative.

[WishIwasinItaly]

Johns Hopkins thank you! Great interview, great information. Who could have imagined, who would have known? TAIWAN of course ! Sounds like we need you in the WHO. Wake up people.

[winniexi]

Perhaps Taiwan’s anti-epidemic method is too late for most countries, but COVID-19 is not the last epidemic. Taiwan’s experience can help most countries fight the next epidemic.

[wenyicvs]

I still remember when America helped improve Taiwan’s public health conditions 50 years ago. Maybe there were some excesses done by USA to other countries. I only had gratitudes toward the USA. Many lives has been saved by the selfless deeds done by people across a vast ocean for reasons most people did not understand.

[Turbo]

If US were to fund WHO, Taiwan should become a contributing member.

[wasilaify]

The fact that Taiwan has an epidemiologist for VP during a time like this is just providence.

[ehong]

This is an important video on lessons learned from countries' fights against infectious disease. Taiwan should be included in the WHO because they're at the forefront of the fight against infectious disease. This is especially important since Taiwan is a democratic country adjacent to China, one of the least democratic countries in the world. Taiwan's intelligence on possible origination of infectious disease from China has proven to be most invaluable.

[HAn-itqz]

Thank you so much for sharing! ❤️I really like Taiwan CDC and CECC's scientific approaches.The home quarantine tracking system with support services is awesome. Wearing facial masks or keeping social distance are important. Big data, transparency, frequent communication to the public, and collaboration all together rock!

[JosephDarcourt]

Thank you Taiwan for showing us early respond is the key and share your success story with the world. 🙏

[elohan]

Vice President Chen is one of the key people to build Taiwan model during this pandemic, successfully Taiwan has democratic environment and mature citizens to support on what Taiwan government policy!