Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38498498›Full record

ArticlePloS one2024

Suppression of the alpha, delta, and omicron variants of SARS-Cov-2 in Taiwan.

Hsiao-Hui Tsou, Fang-Jing Lee, Shiow-Ing Wu, Byron Fan, Hsiao-Yu Wu, Yu-Hsuan Lin, Ya-Ting Hsu, Chieh Cheng, Yu-Chieh Cheng, Wei-Ming Jiang and 5 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Hsiao-Hui TsouInstitute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli County, Taiwan.ORCID 0000-0001-6773-4111
Fang-Jing LeeInstitute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli County, Taiwan.
Shiow-Ing WuInstitute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli County, Taiwan.
Byron FanBrown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America.
Hsiao-Yu WuInstitute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli County, Taiwan.
Yu-Hsuan LinInstitute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli County, Taiwan.
Ya-Ting HsuInstitute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli County, Taiwan.
Chieh ChengInstitute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli County, Taiwan.
Yu-Chieh ChengInstitute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli County, Taiwan.
Wei-Ming JiangInstitute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli County, Taiwan.
Hung-Yi ChiouInstitute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli County, Taiwan.
Wei J ChenCenter for Neuropsychiatric Research, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli County, Taiwan.
Chao A HsiungInstitute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli County, Taiwan.
Pau-Chung ChenNational Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli County, Taiwan.ORCID 0000-0002-6242-5974
Huey-Kang SytwuNational Institute of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli County, Taiwan.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTaiwan was a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outlier, with an extraordinarily long transmission-free record: 253 days without locally transmitted infections while the rest of the world battled wave after wave of infection. The appearance of the alpha variant in May 2021, closely followed by the delta variant, disrupted this transmission-free streak. However, despite low vaccination coverage (<1%), outbreaks were well-controlled.

methodsThis study analyzed the time to border closure and conducted one-sample t test to compare between Taiwan and Non-Taiwan countries prior to vaccine introduction. The study also collected case data to observe the dynamics of omicron transmission. Time-varying reproduction number,Rt, was calculated and was used to reflect infection impact at specified time points and model trends of future incidence.

resultsThe study analyzed and compare the time to border closure in Taiwan and non-Taiwan countries. The mean times to any border closure from the first domestic case within each country were -21 and 5.98 days, respectively (P < .0001). The Taiwanese government invested in quick and effective contact tracing with a precise quarantine strategy in lieu of a strict lockdown. Residents followed recommendations based on self-discipline and unity. The self-discipline in action is evidenced in Google mobility reports. The central and local governments worked together to enact non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), including universal masking, social distancing, limited unnecessary gatherings, systematic contact tracing, and enhanced quarantine measures. The people cooperated actively with pandemic-prevention regulations, including vaccination and preventive NPIs.

conclusionsThis article describes four key factors underlying Taiwan's success in controlling COVID-19 transmission: quick responses; effective control measures with new technologies and rolling knowledge updates; unity and cooperation among Taiwanese government agencies, private companies and organizations, and individual citizens; and Taiwanese self-discipline.

Indexed as

COVID-19SARS-CoV-2Communicable Disease ControlHumansTaiwan

Identifiers

PMID38498498
PMCPMC10947699

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.