Should this be a separate topic - let’s list the errors Taiwan is making in regards to scientific mainstream in containing SARS-Cov2 - I try to list them by importance always linked to sources:
Sars-COV2 spreads airborne - yet Taiwan treats it like it would also spread via contaminated surfaces, spraying bleach, keeping rooms empty for several days in quarantine hotels - and many more mistakes that are done because Taiwan has it’s special own understanding: DEFINE_ME
even more - after 5 minutes 90% of infectivity is lost: Covid 90% Less Infectious Five Minutes After Being Airborne, Study Suggests
Surgical masks do not provide a lot of protection - in critical settings meaning everywhere indoor where transmission is likely (airports, quarantine taxis, …) Taiwan should require FFP2 or N95 masks (FFP2 are very close to N95) and make sure people wear it correctly: https://twitter.com/seungminkim/status/1478867026542219264/photo/1
A large majority of coronavirus infections happens indoors - likely still over 90% (maybe a tiny bit lower for omicron, but still substantial:
As long as people are still allowed to eat in restaurants or be at any other indoor places together not wearing mask, or only wearing surgical masks, it does not make sense to require masks outdoors (simple probability). Outdoors masks make sense in large crowds - however again likely it should be FFP2 plus being worn correctly which will not happen…
Assuming Lockdowns and measures do not lose effectiveness:
It’s been proven over and over again - you cannot lockdown forever - not only because of economic reasons - but also because people get tired from measures and will not stick to them anymore
What clear other errors is Taiwan making by acting in panic mode instead of considering scientific mainstream belief.
Taiwan being correct in looking back but going against mainstream (scientific) opinion
Taiwan locked down very early, used masks very early when other countries did not and went against the mainstream. a) Kudos to discovering it in Wuhan end December 2019. That was well done b) masks early on - actually most scientists believed in masks right from the start - however most countries had no supplies. So in order to stop people from buying up all masks the countries denied this - in order for hospitals not to run. out. Still an error to lie to the people up front. Plus this was opinion back then not backed by studies in any direction.
Other clear errors - besides not admitting to ever do errors. Haven’t seen that but most politicians worldwide and governments are bad at it. Taiwan is no exception.
Omicron is just like the flu - Taiwan is going overboard - let’s not have this discussion in this list of scientific errors. It’s a dead horse. This list is only about clear errors that Taiwan CDC is doing in their tactics. Let’s not forget - people get lockdown and measure tired:
Everyone will get omicron anyhow - Taiwan should realize and adapt. Well some people here still thing differently. - not for this list because it will get too long. Many experts been saying this since last year end November - today even Fauci: Omicron variant will 'find just about everybody,' Fauci says, but vaccinated people will still fare better - CNN
Any discussion about effectiveness of vaccines There are different opinions (e.g. WHO advising for first the full world getting vaccinated before boosters are shelved out - while the whole western world goes for boosters before handing vaccines to the 3rd world) and so on. For omicron at least vaccines cannot do anything substantial to stop the spread (about how much harm they cause vs how much the help in preventing from getting sick is again not part of list in mistakes to prevent spread)