[♪♪]
[David] School's out but
it's nowhere near summer yet.
And it's starting to look like
things may stay that way for a
very long time.
In Taiwan, we're about to spend
a day at school with Peggy and
her mom Lee-li to find out if
what's happening there would
ever work in Canada.
[♪♪]
[David] Here the government
extended the school break and
closed schools for only 2 weeks.
Now, school's back
in, and Peggy's school is taking
some extra measures
to keep kids safe.
Temperatures taken.
Hands and shoes
sanitized on the way inside.
Lee-li is also a
teacher at Peggy's school.
[David] Students
gather for an assembly.
Today, it's a 101 on
germs and COVID-19.
Even an excerpt of Matt Damon
from the movie "Contagion".
Nothing's perfect.
Not all the kids
remember to wear their masks.
My name is Robin.
I'm from Minnesota in the
USA and I'm here at Dajia as a
Fulbright English
teaching assistant.
[Robin] The washing hands
seems to be really crucial,
and I love how this
school has announcements.
At the beginning of
each class period,
the students usually don't enter
the classroom until a minute in
to class because they are
all busy washing their
hands outside.
[David] An added
measure at Peggy's school?
This girl's name is Mabel
but her official title?
"Student chief
disinfectant officer".
And at lunch time?
[Robin] I love how the school
sets up the yellow divider
boards to keep students a little
bit separated from each other's
air space.
[David] The government
provided thermometers,
disinfectants, and face
masks to all schools.
Hi, David.
[David] Hello, minister.
Taiwan's Minister of
Foreign Affairs is Joseph Wu.
What are the measures that you
found worked well for Taiwan?
Taiwan's case may not be
applicable to all other
countries, especially for those
countries that are hit very
hard already.
The reason why Taiwan is more
successful than other countries
is because we responded quickly.
[David] Back on December 31,
Taiwan began to assess people on
flights from Wuhan for
symptoms and soon after,
increased production on supplies
like masks and sanitizers.
Taiwan also tracked people
with a risk of infection through
cell phones to make
sure they stayed home.
I feel so much safer here,
especially knowing that here,
the government actually knows
where all of the cases are.
[David] That kind of tracking
might not be possible in Canada.
But our government wants
people to stay home too,
and just ordered mandatory
quarantine for all travellers,
with fines up to
750,000, even jail time.
I'm Skyping with Toronto
epidemiologist Dr. Isaac Bogoch.
[David] Does he think Canada
should have adopted
Taiwan's approach?
[David] But he does say there's
no excuse for not having enough
tests and medical supplies.
[David] Experts say Canada's
approach of physical distancing
will work if we
all actually do it.
What would be the most
important thing you would tell
Canada right now?
I would say that... try to
educate the public.
Hand washing or personal
hygiene is very important for
the public.
[David] But even in a
place as prepared as Taiwan,
now a second wave.
More than 100 new cases.
Mostly from travellers.
[David] What do you hope
will happen in the future?
[David] One thing we all have
in common is hope to beat
this pandemic.
[♪♪]
