President Tsai Ing-wen praised the Taiwan Model for combating coronavirus April 6, while committing the government to further cooperation with the international community in the months to come.
A set of measures adopted soon after the virus was discovered in the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year have been key to the country’s success in managing the COVID-19 pandemic, Tsai said, adding that the work of medical and public health professionals, transparent sharing of information and the National Health Insurance system have allowed for smooth implementation.
Tsai made the remarks from the Presidential Office in Taipei City during a videoconference with graduating students attending the U.S.-based Minerva Schools at Keck Graduate Institute. It is the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic the president has received guests online, a change made in line with new social distancing rules.
According to Tsai, domestic production capacity for surgical masks is now almost 15 million pieces per day. Taiwan is willing and able to provide masks and other supplies to hard-hit countries as a gesture of friendship and good will, she added.
Announced by the president April 1, Taiwan pledged to donate a total of 10 million surgical masks to its diplomatic allies, 11 European countries and the U.S. for use as personal protective equipment by frontline medical personnel. Local manufacturers are also increasing production of quinine, which may be effective in treating COVID-19, and the government is working with like-minded partners on sharing the technology used to trace and investigate outbreaks, Tsai said. (YCH-E)
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