> Considering it avoided both a mass outbreak and lockdowns, I'd say the system has worked out very well Sorry for the wall of text. It is time to change - pr

> Considering it avoided both a mass outbreak and lockdowns, I'd say the system has worked out very well Sorry for the wall of text. It is time to change - probably overdue. I won't comment on future policy, but this article I think missed a lot of perspective. I'm in a vulnerable group. I'd rather have been in Taiwan for the pandemic than anywhere else. The article mentions masks, but it was common for people to wear surgical masks before the pandemic broke out, for example when visiting doctors. It's been that way for the 15 years I lived here. A cultural norm. It isn't seen as oppressive or some kind of anti-freedom measure or most hysterical as a human rights violation. Until May last year, there was basically total freedom in Taiwan with no (internal) restrictions. We watched with dread at what was happening worldwide. After May there were some minor Delta variant outbreaks. Then, Taiwan had scarce access to any vaccines. Effectively blocked from buying Biontech as part of China's vaccine diplomacy and suffering the global vaccine shortage at that time for anyone outside of a relatively small but powerful set of countries. I'm not criticising those places, just saying there was limited access in Taiwan as little as a year ago. Relying e.g. on Japan for vaccine donations which we were incredibly grateful for. Since then they've developed their own highly effective vaccine Medigen and by mixing donations and the vaccines that could be bought, now most of those who want it have been vaccinated. A year has made all the difference to reduce suffering in Taiwan. Below 1000 deaths. No case explosion straining health services. No severe lockdowns experienced by so many places, although restrictions were put in place.