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Resource allocations

\"The government stopped exporting and started producing,\" Wang said. The government began allocating funds and military personnel to expand its capacity of production.

By late January, Taiwan had a stockpile of 44 million surgical masks, 1.9 million N95 masks and 1,100 negative pressure isolation rooms.

Masks have always been considered courteous and are used regularly as a protective measure in Asian countries, like Taiwan. But during this public health emergency, demand for face masks has soared. In order to meet the growing demand, the government has taken over production. On Tuesday, President Tsai Ing Wen announced that they are now able to produce up to 10 million masks a day.

Lessons

As Italy, Iran, France, Spain and the U.S. grapple with thousands of confirmed COVID-19 cases and rising death tolls, governments around the globe have been criticized for their delayed response.

With the stock market plunging, closures of schools, cancellation of all major events and health experts admitting the failing of our testing system, the U.S. is scrambling to get a handle on the worsening outbreak.

When asked if countries like the U.S., which has a population 13 times larger than Taiwan, can realistically implement similar protocols, Wang answered, \"Of course.\"

\"PHOTO:
Pool/Reuters
PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks about the U.S response to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic during an address to the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, U.S., March 11, 2020.
>

\"The U.S. has a lot of capacity, more power, it's whether we pull ourselves together with big tech companies, governors, federal agencies, to work together in the right direction,\" Wang told ABC News.

Taiwan learned from their mistakes during the 2003 SARS experience, Wang said, and put in place a public health emergency response mechanism that enabled experienced officials to quickly recognize the crisis at hand and respond with efficient, culturally sensitive policies that helped contain the spread and significantly minimize deaths.

\"Taiwan's ability to contain the #COVID19 outbreak is a tribute to our unity & resilience. It also speaks to the collaboration between our government, people, & the many private businesses that have ramped up production to protect public health & make the impossible possible,\" Tsai said in a statement on Twitter.

Brook points out Taiwan's two-party system is just as divided as Democrats and Republicans.

\"But they knew they had a crisis on their hands and they were able to act together, break down bureaucracy and work rapidly to get things done and that's the lesson,\" he said.

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