Friday marks exactly 17 years since one of the darkest moments of the 2003 SARS outbreak in Taiwan. On April 24, 2003, the Hoping branch of Taipei City Hospital was locked down, with staff and patients shut in together for days to contain a sudden outbreak of the SARS virus. Many of the officials leading the response against COVID-19 today cut their teeth during the SARS crisis, including Dr. Chang Shan-chwen, who is a top consultant advising the Epidemic Command Center. In the briefing on Friday, he was asked to reflect on the anniversary of Hoping''s grueling lockdown. He expressed optimism that the situation today looks much brighter.
April 2003, and an ambulance leaves Taipei City Hospital Hoping Branch with the first suspected SARS patient. But while the patient left the building, the virus did not. Within days Hoping became the first hospital in Taiwan to be quarantined in toto.
Police tape is put up and iron gates come down. On April 24, 2003, staff and patients were locked inside Hoping for days after the outbreak was discovered. At that time, Dr. Chang Shan-chwen was head of the National Taiwan University Hospital Infectious Diseases department.
Chang Shan-chwen (March 18, 2003)
Then-NTUH Infectious Diseases head
This may be a mutation of the virus, or indeed, a completely new virus.
Seventeen years later, Taiwan is dealing with a new brand of coronavirus, and Dr. Chang now leads the specialist consultant group for the Central Epidemic Command Center. At the briefing on Friday, he was asked to reflect on that fateful day exactly 17 years ago to the day, when Hoping was locked up.
Chang Shan-chwen
Central Epidemic Command Center specialist
Yesterday I went to Hoping for the second time since the epidemic began, I think. I saw how hard they were all working to take care of their patients. This time, nobody is afraid to be near the hospital or visit shops nearby.
Chen Shih-chung
Central Epidemic Command Center
I’m sure Prof. Chang feels deeply moved by remembering this. He could write a book one day. I’m serious! He’s had so much experience. I remember back during SARS, I was the secretary of the Dentists Association, I’d just stepped down, and at the first opportunity I went to him and asked what we dentists should do. There has always been a war between viruses and humans.
Dr. Chang’s role in that epidemic will never be forgotten by SARS patients like Dr. Chang Shen-kang, who worked at Hoping when it was locked down.
Chang Shen-kang (June 26, 2004)
Taipei City Hospital Heping Branch
About the third time we talked, Professor Chang Shan-chwen said to me, “When you were in the ICU, they were really scared several times. It looked like you were on the brink of passing on quite a few times before we brought you back.”
The SARS outbreak has had a massive impact on Taiwan’s attitudes to handling COVID-19. Many top health officials are motivated by vivid memories of the crisis in 2003. And none more so than Chen Shih-chung, who has worked non-stop for almost four months now.
Chen Shih-chung
Central Epidemic Command Center
When there is an epidemic, or any infectious disease, there’s one thing everyone needs to be clear about. There is no shame in catching a disease.
Seventeen years on, Hoping’s lockdown is an enduring reminder that the ordeals of today will one day be the lessons of tomorrow.
