With Taiwan under a nationwide Level 3 epidemic alert, people reduced their away-from-home activities and adapted their lives to disease prevention. Shown here is a rare scene of deserted streets in Taipei’s usually bustling Ximending shopping district. (photo by Lin Min-hsuan)

In the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, Taiwan assembled a “Team Taiwan” to manufacture and distribute surgical masks, and provided assistance to countries around the world that were severely impacted by the disease. When there was a resurgence of Covid-19 in Taiwan in May of 2021, people were deeply worried. But the goodwill built up previously was reciprocated, and many countries, including the US and Japan but also Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland, donated vaccines to Taiwan. Together with the vaccines Taiwan has purchased itself, these have enabled Taiwan’s vaccination rate to rise sharply, and today Taiwan remains one of the most successful countries in the world in terms of disease prevention and control.

Taiwan Panorama has gathered together a collection of images that record how the people of Taiwan have defended themselves against Covid-19 over the past year and more. It is only through the dedication of frontline healthcare personnel and the self-discipline of citizens that we have been able to get through this difficult period.

During the Level 3 alert, many schools were unable to hold graduation ceremonies. Taipei’s Minzu Elementary School used videoconferencing technology to hold a special online ceremony for its students. (photo by Kent Chuang)

As part of the international humanitarian assistance effort launched by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in response to the spread of Covid-19, in 2020 Taiwan donated 54 million surgical masks to more than 80 countries worldwide, demonstrating once again that “Taiwan can help, and Taiwan is helping.” (photo by Chen Mei-ling)

On July 14, 2021, a mass vaccination station began operating in the Expo Dome at Taipei Expo Park. Eighteen vaccination lines were set up inside the venue, each of which could immunize 800 people per day. Doctors were in attendance to ask each person about their health before nurses administered the vaccines. (photo by Kent Chuang)

For more pictures, please click 《Grappling the Pandemic: A Photographic Record》

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