President Tsai Ing-wen said March 9 that efforts by Taiwan’s public and private sectors to contain the spread of COVID-19 are winning global recognition, spotlighting the country’s dedication to safeguarding residents’ health and well-being.
Taiwan’s ability to combat the coronavirus behind the epidemic underscores the resilience of its people, Tsai said. All segments of society are working in unity to weather this challenge, she added.
Tsai made the remarks during an inspection of a surgical mask manufacturer in northern Taiwan’s Taoyuan City to witness firsthand production and distribution of the country’s medical supplies.
According to Tsai, regulations governing surgical mask production have played a key role in the government’s response to COVID-19, including banning exports and expropriating all output in late January, as well as implementing a rationing system in early February to ensure adequate supplies, especially for frontline medical personnel.
Efforts to ramp up output capacity by building new production lines are also proving a success, with additional manpower drafted in from the armed forces to ensure smooth operation, Tsai said.
Thanks to smart planning and a rapid response, the country’s output is expected to reach nearly 10 million masks per day by the end of the week, more than doubling last month’s capacity of 4.2 million, she added.
The world is taking note of these measures, Tsai said, adding the achievements highlight how Taiwan is an indispensable link in the global disease-fighting network.
Statistics by the Central Epidemic Command Center reveal 47 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Taiwan as of March 10, with one death. A total of 80,754 cases have been identified in China and 32,933 in 103 other countries and territories. (SFC-E)
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