Are you in Taiwan and able to assess the situation in person? Restrictions have been small relative to the rest of the world, with the exception of last summer during a Delta outbreak that was later brought down by effective contact tracing.

Context and time are relevant. Both Delta and an undervaccinated population were issues months ago. I would not say the virus is winning, nor would I call the response here a shit show. The CDC here has been saying since late last year that we will eventually need to live with Covid when it arrives.

I'm specifically taking issue with the linked article's description of their specific experience in the last month as "not a shitshow", when it is pretty clear to me that in the specific timeframe of last month almost everything they went through, however well executed it might be, is pointless and ultimately a waste.

Okay. Well I'm in Taiwan and it's all no big deal. Certainly not a shitshow.

Okay. Being in Taiwan doesn't necessarily mean you've experienced the process of traveling to Taiwan described in the article. Ten days of imprisonment even in a hotel room can't be fairly described as "no big deal", especially if it is unnecessary.

We've done it. Not fun with a family, but understandable given the times, and that policy is going away this summer.

A related response: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31189893