Opinion
As we brace for COVID’s second wave, some simple lessons from Taiwan and South Korea
By Joseph Wong June 15, 2020
Our economies cannot withstand another lockdown. We need to look to Taiwan and Korea for leadership, as we await and prepare for the next COVID-19 wave and future pandemics.
A pedestrian crosses an almost empty O'Connor Street in downtown Ottawa on May 14, 2020. As the world braces for a second wave of disease—expected by epidemiologists around the world—what lessons can we learn from Taiwan and South Korea? Clear and consistent communication by the government was critical, writes Joseph Wong.
Taiwan and South Korea successfully managed the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, stemming the spread of the coronavirus and minimizing the number of deaths, all the while keeping their economies running. To date, there have been more than 11,000 confirmed COVID cases in Korea, though fewer than 300 deaths. Taiwan has recorded fewer than 500 COVID cases and just seven deaths.
Related Stories
Politics This Morning
Your email has been added. An email has been sent to your address, please click the link inside of it to confirm your subscription.
WE Charity highlights loopholes for ‘celebrity’ and secret lobbying, warn observers who call for long overdue review
'I’m of the opinion that organizations understand the rules so well that we have seen that they will make sure they don't have to report if they don't want to,' says ethics scholar Ian Stedman.‘Weak’ trade growth in 2019 caused by ‘trade policy uncertainty’ and ‘mixed economic signals’, Global Affairs report suggests
Canada's export growth with China declined by 16 per cent in 2019 and growth in exports to the United States slowed to 2.5 per cent.Fundraising amid pandemic ‘incredibly difficult’ for Green leadership hopefuls as Paul takes clear lead
The second- and third-place fundraisers are hitting the road, holding socially distanced campaign events across the country as they try to close the gap with leader Annamie Paul.Venezuela winter elections will be fraudulent, warns envoy, calling for continued support
Last November, Canada officially recognized Orlando Viera-Blanco, a representative of interim president Juan Guaidó, as the country’s ambassador.Official Languages Committee to probe WE Charity deal
Liberal MP Sherry Sherry Romanado, who voted along party lines to oppose the motion, says the probe falls outside the scope of the committee's mandate. ‘Extraterritorial reach’ of national security law in Hong Kong could have chilling effect on freedom of speech in Canada, say activists
Cherie Wong of the Alliance Canada Hong Kong says Canada’s intelligence and police agencies appear to be ill-equipped to respond to the 'malicious and sophisticated' ways in which Beijing allegedly suppresses criticism. WE was ‘at no point’ creating a program for feds, says top bureaucrat
'There were many sources. Public servants wanted to help; ministers wanted to help. A problem had been identified and a multitude of ideas were put forward,' says Privy Council Clerk Ian Shugart.Upper Chamber staff harassment ‘more widespread,’ and could happen again, say former Don Meredith Senate employees
Sexual harassment is ‘more widespread’ in the Senate than the Don Meredith case, says one of his former staffers.Would-be Conservative leaders wooing Quebec dairy farmers, but organizers say they won’t decide the race this time
With Maxime Bernier out of the party, dairy farmers don’t have a supply-management bogeyman to unite against this time.Trending Stories
