While many countries around the world are setting new records in cases of coronavirus infection, Taiwan has achieved a different type of record, as it spent 200 days without a locally transmitted case.

Taiwan has the best virus record in the world so far and reached a new milestone on Thursday, as the last local case of corona was recorded in Taiwan on April 12, and there was no second wave. There are currently 550 confirmed cases, with only seven deaths.

Experts say closing borders early and tightening travel have gone a long way toward fighting the virus. Other factors include strict contact tracing, technology-enhanced quarantine, and universal mask wearing. Moreover, Taiwan's deadly experience with SARS frightened people and prompted them to comply with the measures.

Taiwan will be among the few economies to grow this year, as the government forecast in August that its GDP would expand 1.56% in 2020.

However, Taiwan is not out of danger yet, as it recorded 20 imported cases in the past two weeks, most of them from Southeast Asian countries such as the Philippines and Indonesia.

What countries with high infection rates can learn from Taiwan's experience is that nothing works without tracing contacts of those who have tested positive for the virus, and then isolating them, said Chen Xin Jin, former Taiwan vice president and epidemiologist, in an interview.

Also, since it is not easy to force people to remain in quarantine, Taiwan has taken steps to provide meals, groceries and even some friendly calls via Line Bot, a robot that sends text messages and conversations. There is also a penalty for violating the quarantine of up to one million Taiwan dollars, or 35,000 dollars.

Source: "TIME"

By:Nadeemy Haded