On March 22, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressed Canadians, urging all citizens to practice social distancing and other best-health practices in the face of the growing COVID-19 pandemic.

The Prime Minister also made reference to learning from the strategies of other countries, noting specifically how Taiwan has managed the situation.

“We are taking the best advice from top researchers around the world; we’re looking at the track of the spread of the disease … in places like Taiwan,” explained the Prime Minister.

Based on learning international lessons from countries like Taiwan, he resolved to “make sure that we are taking the best possible decisions here in Canada.”

It’s no wonder why Trudeau mentioned Taiwan. The early and strong approach from the Taiwan government on COVID-19 is an example of how states can avoid an exponential curve entirely. As of March 24, with only 215 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 2 deaths as a result of the virus, Taiwan has been recognized in recent days in many Canadian news stories.