[fullmetal]

I would argue that Taiwan has come up with a rational solution that works pretty well both economically and public health wise. They did get on the disease early and did install mandatory quarantine for people entering the country early on. That was smart, but one could argue they had the benefit of previous epidemics to guide them, which Europe and the USA did not. They are fortunate to be an island nation with very heavily guarded borders, so they actually can control arrivals, which the USA arguable cannot and certainly does not.

"They had the benefit of previous epidemics to guide them..."  What like SARS and MERS were secrets?  Their govt response is a matter of public record.  We had the benefit of Taiwan's experience to guide us!  But we threw away that playbook on day one of this administration.  Remember this administration refusing to meaningfully attend the passdown meeting with the prior administration regarding pandemics?

"They are fortunate to be an island nation with very heavily guarded borders, so they actually can control arrivals..."  I'm betting money that most of the inbound covid cases entering the United States did not do so over a land border.  Controlled borders was not the issue.  Viral introduction happened through airports, and the US (specifically TSA/CBP) failed to show any kind of leadership in the smallest of gestures -- no temperature checking, no mask requirements, etc.  Federal entities with airport and travel oversight did not control those borders (even the China travel ban wasn't actually a ban; over 400k travelers from China still entered the US despite this "ban").

[fullmetal]

I would argue that Taiwan has come up with a rational solution that works pretty well both economically and public health wise. They did get on the disease early and did install mandatory quarantine for people entering the country early on. That was smart, but one could argue they had the benefit of previous epidemics to guide them, which Europe and the USA did not. They are fortunate to be an island nation with very heavily guarded borders, so they actually can control arrivals, which the USA arguable cannot and certainly does not.

"They had the benefit of previous epidemics to guide them..."  What like SARS and MERS were secrets?  Their govt response is a matter of public record.  We had the benefit of Taiwan's experience to guide us!  But we threw away that playbook on day one of this administration.  Remember this administration refusing to meaningfully attend the passdown meeting with the prior administration regarding pandemics?

"They are fortunate to be an island nation with very heavily guarded borders, so they actually can control arrivals..."  I'm betting money that most of the inbound covid cases entering the United States did not do so over a land border.  Controlled borders was not the issue.  Viral introduction happened through airports, and the US (specifically TSA/CBP) failed to show any kind of leadership in the smallest of gestures -- no temperature checking, no mask requirements, etc.  Federal entities with airport and travel oversight did not control those borders (even the China travel ban wasn't actually a ban; over 400k travelers from China still entered the US despite this "ban").