https://english.cw.com.tw/article/article.action?id=2688 Considering the global explosion in the number of new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases, Taiwan’s first death from the virus may now seem like a distant memory. But with the benefit of hindsight, the passing of a private car driver on Feb. 15 marked a critical juncture in Taiwan’s battle against the epidemic. The driver had no travel history and was the one who “fell through the cracks” from among many who reported severe flu symptoms but tested negative for the flu. In fact, he did not test positive for COVID-19 until the day he died. His death triggered rumors of a community spread that rifled around Taiwan, and Changhua County was suddenly talked about as a potential “disaster area.” Not long after, however, life in this agricultural county of 1.3 million returned to normal, without any spread of the disease. Two officials were primarily responsible for stabilizing the threat – Yeh Yen-po, director-g...