LESSONS LEARNED FROM COVID-19: EAST ASIAN PERSPECTIVES
BY LAUREN BATTEN
The Pacific Council recently hosted a webcast on Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan's responses to COVID-19 and what they learned through the process of re-opening. The discussion featured Ambassador Abraham Wen-Shang Chu, Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles; Consul General Akira Muto, Consul General, of Japan in Los Angeles; and Consul General Kyung Jae Park, Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Los Angeles. The discussion was moderated by Dr. Parmis Khatibi, COO of Ahura Health Corporation.
Here are takeaways from the discussion
“Innovative and technology developments have helped keep COVID-19 cases down in South Korea,” Park said. “South Korea did not have a full lockdown in society since cases were low, but we did emphasize social distancing.”
“Medical professionals, government officials, and private sectors all worked together towards success in Taiwan,” Chu said. “Contact tracing has also been hugely important, especially when people fly. Even when they return home after traveling with the virus, they continue to be monitored so that they do not go to restaurants or out in public and put others at risk.”
“It is very important to have enough testing kits to preemptively prevent a second wave and do a preemptive diagnostic screening,” Park said. “It is very important to socially distance with face masks.”
There’s a big difference between SARS and COVID-19,” Muto said. “Most SARS cases showed severe symptoms, but COVID-19 has many mild/asymptotic patients. We intentionally went after places where COVID-19 could be most easily spread (airports and social spots like bars and restaurants). We need to contain the virus.”
“Wearing masks should not be a debate,” Chu said. “You have the right to not wear a mask, but if you are a carrier, you are bringing the virus to others. Leaders should keep reinforcing masks. If all people wear a mask, the transmission rate is less than 1 percent. The Taiwanese government ensured compliance by making face masks a rule. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and luckily Taiwanese people followed this suggestion. Political leaders should encourage people to change their mindset.”
“The South Korean government has strongly suggested that all people wear a mask at all times, especially indoors and in enclosed places like public transportation.”
“There’s no way of totally eliminating the virus,” Muto said. “We need to accept the fact that we need to coexist with the virus. We can do this in large or small ways depending on how people behave. We need to balance the maintenance of social and economic activities with outbreaks. Lockdowns are unsustainable. Managing socio-economic activities and managing the virus should be compatible.”
“Taiwan actually benefitted a lot from everyone working remotely,” Chu said. “This opened up new job opportunities that had been exported to China. As human beings, we need to respect nature. We need to support each other, share information, and love each other. We are a family. We need to learn the lesson of respecting the Earth. Hopefully COVID-19 is showing us that.”
LISTEN TO the full conversation below:
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The views and opinions expressed here are those of the speaker and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Pacific Council.
