[m_mueller]

And then there are places like Taiwan that have kept themselves COVID free and report a grand total of 7 deaths on 22M inhabitants, without any lockdown needed and thus experiencing minimal economic impact. And yet no Western country seems to want to learn from that.

[dageshi]

What is there to learn?

1) Act immediately and aggressively at the first sign of potential virus.

2) Get your population used to wearing masks when ill with cold like viruses and thus ensure sufficient supplies and willingness to wear masks when the government mandates it.

3) Preferably be an island or have absolute control of your country (China)

There was a period when countries could've done what Taiwan did but once the virus got a hold in continental europe and usa it was over.

[m_mueller]

Taiwan had an emergency law in place thanks to lessons learned from SARS. Allowed government to track cell phones for quarantine and case tracking. This has turned out to be highly effective, without requiring a total authoritarian government. Even though I'm usually very much pro privacy, IMO with sufficient checks and limitations in place such a law is very effective - I'd gladly give up privacy in case I was tested positive or have traveled abroad in exchange of not needing any lockdowns and live normally otherwise.

[lenkite]

4) Nod and smile but disregard everything the CCP says.