Taiwan acknowledges room to improve in COVID-19 response
ABC News
The task force in charge of Taiwan’s COVID-19 response has acknowledged that the island could have done better in fighting the disease, after 12 families who lost relatives to the pandemic filed a claim seeking financial compensation from the government
TAIPEI, Taiwan -- The task force in charge of Taiwan's COVID-19 response has acknowledged that the island could have done better in fighting the disease, after 12 families that lost relatives to the pandemic filed a claim seeking financial compensation from the government.
The families allege that the authorities were underprepared despite having more than a year during which there were few cases, resulting in unnecessary deaths and suffering.
Taiwan managed to largely keep out the coronavirus for nearly a year and a half, with 1,199 cases and 12 deaths as of May 10. The virus then swept through the island, powered by the contagious alpha variant, and Taiwan has now recorded 16,516 cases and 848 deaths.
Asked about the families' claim, the Central Epidemic Command Center said the island's initial success in keeping the virus out resulted in it not having enough COVID-19 tests to detect it.
