Why masks, messaging and soap have been crucial to controlling the coronavirus

The Telegraph
Date: 14 June 2020
By: Nicola Smith, ASIA CORRESPONDENT

Audrey Tang, Taiwan’s “digital minister”, is one of the leaders of the country's successful coronavirus response team, helping to ensure a steady supply of protective face masks for the 23-million strong population and counter pandemic disinformation.

In an interview with the Telegraph, Ms Tang, one of the world’s top open source software developers and former "civic hacker", explains the key elements of Taiwan’s successful pandemic strategy.

The UK is debating the effectiveness of masks, whether they will help ease the lockdown? What impact have masks had in Taiwan?

Wearing a mask in Taiwan is a social signal and it signals two things – first, I am protecting myself from my own hands because I wouldn’t be touching my mask all the time and two, that I am washing my hands properly. We all know in Taiwan that wearing a mask is useless without washing your hands properly. It is a social signal to remind other people to take care of themselves in terms of hand sanitation and not touching your face.    [FULL  STORY]