Taiwan has embraced cuddly mascots and humour to ease public anxiety about the new coronavirus and educate on best practices
Taiwan has embraced cuddly mascots and humour to ease public anxiety about the new coronavirus and educate on best practices (AFP Photo/Sam Yeh)
Yahoo News
Date: February 16, 2020
By: Amber WANG
Taipei (AFP) – While China deploys stern communist slogans in its battle against a deadly new coronavirus, democratic Taiwan has embraced cuddly mascots and humour to ease public anxiety and educate on best practices.
Images of cute animals have featured in daily social media updates from government agencies to tackle disinformation and prevent the spread of infections.
The health ministry has deployed a cartoon "spokesdog" — a Shiba Inu called Zongchai — that has proved a hit with hashtags of his name going viral and posts shared hundreds of thousands of times.
Recent contributions have included advice on hygiene and quarantine regulations as well as reminding people to use face masks judiciously given the ongoing shortages since the new virus exploded in China.
"Leave face masks for the people who need them, frequently wash your hands with soap, reduce touching your eyes, nose and mouth with your hands," read one update. [FULL STORY]
