Central Epidemic Command Center

On 28 April 2009, the CECC held its first meeting hosted by the Minister of Health, Yeh Ching-chuan. Participating agencies included the Department of Health, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Economic Affairs.{{cite web |url=http://www.cdc.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=22889&ctNode=960&mp=5 |title=WHO raises influenza pandemic alert level, Taiwan establishes Central Epidemic Command Center in response |date=2009-04-28 |access-date=2020-04-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229132652/http://www.cdc.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=22889&ctNode=960&mp=5 |archive-date=2012-02-29}} On 20 May 2009, the CECC confirmed Taiwan's first imported case of H1N1 influenza. The CDC immediately reported to the WHO and other countries through International Health Regulations Focal Points. On 24 May, the first indigenous case was confirmed. These precautionary measures triggered many different policy responses in Taiwan.{{Cite journal|last=Lai|first=Allen Yu-Hung|date=2018-10-02|title=Agility amid uncertainties: evidence from 2009 A/H1N1 pandemics in Singapore and Taiwan|journal=Policy and Society|volume=37|issue=4|pages=459–472|doi=10.1080/14494035.2018.1519979|issn=1449-4035|doi-access=free}}

On 3 April 2013, the Executive Yuan activated the CECC in response to the H7N9 influenza (avian influenza or bird flu virus) epidemic in mainland China.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cdc.gov.tw/En/Bulletin/Detail/RJc3KtCY5duEuKOh8pMDFQ?typeid=158|title=As Central Epidemic Command Center for H7N9 influenza is deactivated per Executive Yuan's consent, Taiwan CDC continues to closely monitor H7N9 influenza activity|website=www.cdc.gov.tw|language=en|access-date=2020-04-19}}{{cite web |url=https://www.nhi.gov.tw/News_Content.aspx?n=FC05EB85BD57C709&sms=587F1A3D9A03E2AD&s=8742DCE7A2A28761&Create=1 |title=新聞發布 |date=15 October 2016 |access-date=2020-04-11}} The Executive Yuan deactivated the CECC for H7N9 influenza on 11 April 2014.

The CECC convened 24 meetings with government agencies including the Council of Agriculture, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, and the Ministry of Education. It also convened meetings with 22 city and local governments. In addition, regional and deputy commanding officers of the Communicable Disease Control Network attended these meetings.

On 17 May 2013, the slaughtering of live poultry was banned at traditional wet markets, eliminating risk of avian influenza being transmitted from animals to humans.

File:張主持登革熱中央流行疫情指揮中心會議.jpg Chang San-cheng attending a CECC conference on 16 September 2015]]

{{Main|2015 dengue outbreak in Taiwan}}

Dengue fever is caused by the dengue virus, and is common in tropical and sub-tropical climates.{{Cite journal|last1=Hsu|first1=Jason C.|last2=Hsieh|first2=Chin-Lin|last3=Lu|first3=Christine Y.|date=2017-01-01|title=Trend and geographic analysis of the prevalence of dengue in Taiwan, 2010–2015|url=https://www.ijidonline.com/article/S1201-9712(16)31225-5/abstract|journal=International Journal of Infectious Diseases|language=en|volume=54|pages=43–49|doi=10.1016/j.ijid.2016.11.008|issn=1201-9712|pmid=27865829|doi-access=free}} Outbreaks occur from time to time in Taiwan, and the CECC was activated on 14 September 2015.{{Cite journal|last1=Wang|first1=Sheng-Fan|last2=Wang|first2=Wen-Hung|last3=Chang|first3=Ko|last4=Chen|first4=Yen-Hsu|last5=Tseng|first5=Sung-Pin|last6=Yen|first6=Chia-Hung|last7=Wu|first7=Deng-Chyang|last8=Chen|first8=Yi-Ming Arthur|date=2016-01-06|title=Severe Dengue Fever Outbreak in Taiwan|journal=The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene|volume=94|issue=1|pages=193–197|doi=10.4269/ajtmh.15-0422|issn=0002-9637|pmc=4710429|pmid=26572871}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.thenewslens.com/article/24615 |title=登革熱疫情將破萬！政院才宣布成立「中央疫情中心」 |language=zh |date=2015-09-15 |publisher=The News Lens 關鍵評論網 }} There were 43,784 cases reported in total, most of these being in the tropical climate of the southern cities of Tainan and Kaohsiung with 52% and 45% respectively.{{Cite journal|last1=Wang|first1=Sheng-Fan|last2=Chang|first2=Ko|last3=Loh|first3=El-Wui|last4=Wang|first4=Wen-Hung|last5=Tseng|first5=Sung-Pin|last6=Lu|first6=Po-Liang|last7=Chen|first7=Yen-Hsu|last8=Chen|first8=Yi-Ming Arthur|date=December 2016|title=Consecutive large dengue outbreaks in Taiwan in 2014–2015|journal=Emerging Microbes & Infections|volume=5|issue=12|pages=e123|doi=10.1038/emi.2016.124|issn=2222-1751|pmc=5180368|pmid=27924810}} Taiwan experienced consecutive outbreaks of dengue fever in both 2014 and 2015.{{Cite journal|last1=Wang|first1=Sheng-Fan|last2=Chang|first2=Ko|last3=Loh|first3=El-Wui|last4=Wang|first4=Wen-Hung|last5=Tseng|first5=Sung-Pin|last6=Lu|first6=Po-Liang|last7=Chen|first7=Yen-Hsu|last8=Chen|first8=Yi-Ming Arthur|date=2016-01-01|title=Consecutive large dengue outbreaks in Taiwan in 2014–2015|journal=Emerging Microbes & Infections|volume=5|issue=1|pages=e123|doi=10.1038/emi.2016.124|pmc=5180368|pmid=27924810}}

{{-}}

File:張善政視察疾管署茲卡病毒指揮中心 01.jpg

{{Main|2015–2016 Zika virus epidemic}}

{{Expand section|date=May 2020}}

CECC was activated on 2 February 2016.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thenewslens.com/article/35672 |title=WHO確認茲卡病毒為「國際公衛緊急事件」 疾管署：和伊波拉威脅同等級 |language=zh-tw |date=2016-02-02 |publisher=The News Lens 關鍵評論網 }}

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File:2020台灣中央流行疫情指揮中心記者會.jpg

{{Main|COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan}}

In response to the coronavirus pandemic, the CECC was activated on 20 January 2020.{{cite news |last1=Chiang |first1=Yi-ching |last2=Wen |first2=Kuei-hsiang |last3=Wang |first3=Cheng-chung |title=CORONAVIRUS / How Taiwan has been able to keep COVID-19 at bay |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/society/202003160019 |access-date=16 March 2020 |date=16 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200317145811/https://focustaiwan.tw/society/202003160019 |archive-date=17 March 2020 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Lee |first1=I-chia |last2=Shan |first2=Shelley |title=Epidemic response command center set up |url=http://taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2020/01/21/2003729605 |access-date=5 March 2020 |work=Taipei Times |date=21 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200401230455/http://taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2020/01/21/2003729605 |archive-date=1 April 2020 |url-status=live }} The Executive Yuan approved the deactivation of the CECC in response to COVID-19 effective 1 May 2023.{{cite press release |author= |title=Effective May 1, COVID-19 to be downgraded to Category 4 notifiable communicable disease and CECC to disband; Ministry of Health and Welfare to take charge of relevant preparation and response work |url=https://www.cdc.gov.tw/En/Bulletin/Detail/FW_1qpr_nCJoo0X1X5oDCw?typeid=158 |agency=Taiwan Centers for Disease Control |date=25 April 2023 |access-date=2 May 2023}}

The CECC has the authority to coordinate work across government departments and enlist additional personnel during an emergency.{{Cite journal|last1=Lin|first1=Cheryl|last2=Braund|first2=Wendy E.|last3=Auerbach|first3=John|author4-link=Chou Jih-haw|last4=Chou|first4=Jih-Haw|last5=Teng|first5=Ju-Hsiu|last6=Tu|first6=Pikuei|last7=Mullen|first7=Jewel|title= Policy Decisions and Use of Information Technology to Fight Coronavirus Disease, Taiwan|journal=Emerging Infectious Diseases|year=2020|volume=26|issue=7|pages=1506–1512|language=en-us|doi=10.3201/eid2607.200574|pmid=32228808|pmc=7323533|doi-access=free}} The CECC has coordinated government response measures across areas including logistics for citizens on the Diamond Princess, disinfection of public spaces around schools, and daily briefings from Minister of Health Chen Shih-chung, which are regularly aired on large news channels in Taiwan. Originally established as a level 3 government entity, the CECC was promoted to level 1 on 28 February 2020.{{cite news |last1=Lin |first1=Sean |title=Virus Outbreak: Su, eyeing 'good offense,' promotes CECC |url=http://taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2020/02/28/2003731749 |access-date=6 March 2020 |date=28 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200303040021/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2020/02/28/2003731749 |archive-date=3 March 2020 |url-status=live }}

In January, Taiwan closed its borders to all residents of Wuhan amid concerns that the country was not receiving timely updates, because it was excluded from the World Health Organization (WHO).{{Cite web|url=https://thediplomat.com/2020/01/taiwan-shut-out-from-who-confronts-deadly-wuhan-coronavirus/|title=Taiwan, Shut Out From WHO, Confronts Deadly Wuhan Coronavirus|last=Aspinwall|first=Nick|work=The Diplomat|access-date=2020-04-17}}

The agency has sent warning text messages target to mobile phones in specific areas, urging people to practice social distancing, especially by avoiding crowded scenic areas.{{Cite web|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2020/04/05/2003734021|title=Virus Outbreak: CECC messages warn against crowding - Taipei Times|date=2020-04-05|website=www.taipeitimes.com|access-date=2020-04-17}}

On 18 March, the CECC raised its travel notice for the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand and advised against all nonessential travel to these countries. It also announced that certain exempted foreign nationals must observe a 14-day home quarantine upon arrival from overseas.{{Cite web|url=https://www.boca.gov.tw/cp-220-5081-c06dc-2.html|title=Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China(Taiwan)|date=31 July 2017}}

On 25 March, even as Taiwan saw zero new confirmed cases on that day, the CECC announced recommendations that indoor events which would be attended by more than 100 people should be suspended, while outdoor gatherings of more than 500 people should also do so.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ketagalanmedia.com/2020/04/10/taiwan-singapore-coronavirus-second-phase-response/|title=Taiwan Is Flattening the Curve. Singapore Is Locked Down. Inside Their 'Second Wave' Coronavirus Responses|date=2020-04-10|website=Ketagalan Media|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-17}}

{{update|section|April 2020|date=December 2020|reason=The information is still accurate, but a lot has happened since April}}

Taiwan's response has been praised in JAMA, the journal of the American Medical Association. According to JAMA, Taiwan should have seen the second-largest outbreak of COVID-19 in the world, but has instead effectively eliminated community transmission.{{cite news

|first=Marc A. |last=Thiessen |date=16 April 2020 |type=Opinion

|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/04/16/totalitarian-china-unleashed-virus-free-china-has-all-defeated-it/

|title=As Taiwan shows, the antidote to the virus is freedom

|newspaper=The Washington Post

}} Taiwan has done this without ordering people to stay home or shutting down schools, restaurants, shops and other businesses. As a result, Taiwan's economy is not suffering the same economic damage as countries under lockdown.

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category}}

• [https://www.cdc.gov.tw Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC)]

{{COVID-19 pandemic}}

Category:2004 establishments in Taiwan

Category:Government agencies established in 2004

Category:Disease outbreaks in Taiwan

Category:Organizations based in Taipei

Category:COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan