Taiwan appeals to WHO for ‘first-hand information’ on coronavirus pandemic
- Island’s health minister says it could become a gap in the global response without the most up-to-date details on the crisis
- Chen Shih-chung also says Taipei should be allowed to take part in the world health body, and is willing to discuss this with Beijing
Covid-19, the disease caused by the virus, has infected over 3.6 million people and killed more than 256,000 worldwide since it was first reported in central China late last year.
But Taiwan, which took swift quarantine and other measures in late January, has reported just 439 cases and six deaths, and it has been widely praised for its approach.
Wuhan, the initial epicentre of the outbreak, is only about a two-hour flight from Taiwan.
Chen Shih-chung, Taiwan’s health minister, on Wednesday said the island needed the latest information if it was to play a role in controlling the pandemic, warning it could become a gap in the global fight if it had to rely on second-hand details.
“Taiwan needs first-hand information. Any second-hand information slows down the actions we take and distorts our judgment about the pandemic,” Chen said in a news briefing for foreign media outlets in Taipei. “But if we can get first-hand information within the [WHO], we can see the whole picture and can react proactively by creating various systems or policies. This way, Taiwan will not become a gap because we are able to act faster.”