Taiwan experience-COVID 19

The small island that was predicted to have the highest casualties and the most critical situation in COVID-19 pandemic other than China.

By Charlotte Lee

Taiwan’s outstanding performance in combating COVID-19 this time is for all to see. However, Taiwan did not achieve everything with pure luck; this achievement requires experiences sharing and the cooperation of the whole society. Therefore, contributing Taiwan’s experience to the world is an inevitable action to prevent further damages that any disease might cause to human species.

Some might suggest that Taiwan’s reaction toward COVID-19 is quicker than any other countries is because of the SARS epidemic in 2003 and the distrust against China that is deeply rooted in our nature. However, one thing that distinctively deserves to be pointed out is the comparison between Taiwanese people’s and other countries’ citizens reactions. As a Taiwanese student studying in the United Kingdom, I personally experience the different attitudes people have toward this pandemic. In the UK, people started with thinking COVID-19 is a mere flu that happens annually, and they kept the attitude that way until things have gone wrong. No one on the streets wear masks like Taiwanese people do, and some people even yell to the ones who are wearing masks believing those who wear masks are “sick”.

(Racism also happens in the UK during the time, but that’s another story.)

I believe that it’s the “citizens” instead of the “government” that matters during any epidemic, or even any crisis, as people constructed our society, and laws should be the lowest standard to regulate governed people.

After all, we need ourselves instead of solely the governing people to sustain our society.

臺灣的COVID-19防疫經驗

在COVID-19疫情中，這座原本被預估將是在中國之外死傷人口最多、狀況最危急的小島。

我們做了什麼？

臺灣此次在防治COVID-19上的優異表現，世人與目共賭。然而，臺灣的成果絕非全然歸功於運氣──這個成就的背後，是經驗分享以及整體社會的合作。也因為如此，將臺灣的經驗分享給全世界是必要的；透過如此，我們可以防止對疾病對全人類的進一步損害。

有些人認為，臺灣對COVID-19的回應比其他國家來得迅速，反映了2003年SARS疫情的經驗以及許多人對中國的不信任感。然而，一件尤其值得被提出來的事情是，臺灣與其他國家居民對疫情態度的差異。身為一個在英國讀書的臺灣學生，我個人體驗到了人們對這次疫情所表現出的迥異態度。在英國，人們一開始認為COVID-19僅僅是個年年發生的流感，然後直到事情不太對勁前，他們仍持續保有這個態度。街上沒有人像臺灣人一樣戴著口罩，有些人甚至對戴著口罩的人大吼大叫，深信對方一定生了病。

（在當時，種族歧視在英國也顯現了，但那是另一個故事了。）

我相信，在任何疾病乃至任何危機之中，重要的是「民眾」而非「政府」，因為人們建構了我們的社會，而法律為規範被統治者的最低標準。

畢竟，為了維持我們的社會，我們需要不僅是在上位管理的人，還有我們自己。

This article is written by Charlotte Lee & translated by Charlotte Lee. See original post here: https://www.themockingjay.net/

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of The Mockingjay.