[End of Self-Quarantine] Dumplings on the table again, cooked other way.
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As my 14-day self-quarantine ends today, I would like to share a bit my trip home few weeks ago. I was in a dilemma of whether I should come back to Taiwan or not when the outbreak in Canada. But a friend told me “do what gives you peace of mind”. It was definitely not like any travel experiences. While I was laying over in Vancouver for the flight to Taipei, I was told by the ground staff to scan a QR code, which directed me to a government website. I was required to fill out information on my flight number, seat number, my national ID number, home address, and my phone number. Upon arrival in Taipei, a link was sent to my phone immediately via text message, verifying all the information I’ve provided. This system is used to certify details and keep a record on people entering, and where they'll be staying. As every person entering Taiwan from abroad will now be mandated 14 day home quarantine, someone from the government will be phoning in to check on my status on a daily basis. As I'm under home quarantine, aka not allow to leave the house, they can also track my location via my phone GPS. Moreover, instead of people fighting over for masks and mask price surge, an app has been developed for real name registration/buying of allotted face masks per citizen. Everyone gets a set number of masks every other day. No price gouging. No hoarding. Equal distribution. The app even tells you which pharmacies have masks in stock, so you can register in advance. Full government transparency to the people not only creates an accurate, real time flow of information. It also creates trust and confidence, at a time when both are desperately needed. Personally, I am surprised and impressed how Taiwan manages this pandemic and able to keep the numbers low due to its proximity to China. Nonetheless, glad I’m with my family now despite how stressful the trip was.
