No room for Covid complacency

The imposition by Taiwan of its first lockdown after a year of being regarded as a role model for its standout success in handling the pandemic is a warning, especially for countries with low vaccination rates. Until last month, the coronavirus had little impact on Taiwan, which has a population of 23.5 million. Global health authorities regarded its mitigation measures as gold standard. Until recently, the nation had experienced fewer than 1000 infections, 12 deaths and no lockdowns compared with Australia’s 29,983 cases and 910 deaths.

But Taiwan recently has suffered a surge in cases. Its total is now 2017 infections following the diagnosis of a record 333 new cases on Monday and 700 last week. Alarm about a 10 per cent positivity rate at some screening centres, the same as New York’s at its peak, was followed by the announcement of an unprecedented lockdown. That includes a ban on all non-Taiwanese entering or transiting through the country, strict limits on gatherings and people being told to stay home. Panic buying and a plunge in the stockmarket followed.

The outbreak’s source has been traced to airline employees and a quarantine hotel, and many businesses and schools have been closed for a month. Lulled into a sense of confidence as a result of their nation’s success in containing the virus, fewer than 1 per cent of the population have been vaccinated. There is also a desperate vaccine shortage in a country regarded as one of the most efficient. Health officials say Taiwan’s success has bred a sluggish attitude towards being vaccinated and ensuring vaccine supply chains. On Tuesday, government health authorities were scrambling to find new supplies, with an existing stock of 300,000 doses rapidly being depleted.

Taiwan is not alone. Three weeks ago, Singapore was named the best place to be in the time of COVID-19, even though it had recorded more than 61,000 infections and 60 deaths since the pandemic started. On Friday, it was forced to reimpose a strict lockdown amid a surge of new cases linked to Changi airport, schools and hospitals.

In Japan, where the Olympics are due to begin on July 23, three prefectures — Hokkaido, Okayama and Hiroshima — have been added to the state of emergency declared by Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga. Hokkaido, scheduled to host the Olympic marathon, recorded 712 new cases last Thursday and Tokyo 854 on Friday.

Scott Morrison is right when he repeatedly insists that while we have done remarkably well in Australia, there is no room for complacency.