As the COVID-19 pandemic unleashed unprecedented social and economic disruptions worldwide, 2020 has been a challenging year for most people. The SARS-CoV-2 has caused human suffering of unimaginable magnitude globally.
Taiwan, a self-governing island of 23.5 million people, has grabbed the world’s headlines with its relative success at containing the coronavirus. As of April 17 of this year, Taiwan has a record of 1072 cases - a majority of which are imported - and 11 deaths. Much has been written and reported about Taiwan's pandemic response. This piece examines a critical aspect of the Taiwanese approach to the health crisis: the use of digital tools to support the pandemic response. Specifically, the challenges and advantages of integrating digital tools as part of Taiwan’s pandemic management and response.