COVID-19 - Situation and response in Thailand
 

FML.

"Thailand has its first case of human-to-human transmission of the new coronavirus inside the country, a health official said on Friday, as authorities raised the total number of cases in the country to 19, the second-highest after China.

The first patient to contract the virus inside Thailand is a Thai taxi driver, said Tanarak Pipat, deputy director-general of the Department of Disease Control.

“(He) ...does not have the record of traveling to China, and it is likely that he was infected (by) a sick traveler from China,” Tanarak said."

https://www.reuters.com/article/chin...-idUSL4N2A03OJ

On January 30th, 78 passengers met the criteria of patients under investigation (PUI),
raising the total number of PUI to 280 people. Of those, 37 PUI were detected from the airport
screening. 236 people sought medical services on their own at hospitals, including 141 PUI at
private hospitals, 95 PUI at government hospitals and seven PUI at others (a hotel residence, the
Erawan Medical Center, a local university and a tour group). Among all PUI, 175 are admitted at
hospitals, including 109 at government hospitals and 66 at private hospitals, and 38 are in isolation
rooms for healthcare providers to monitor their clinical signs. 67 cases recovered from their
illnesses and returned to their homes. Laboratory results identified the novel coronavirus
2019 in 14 cases. Six of them were discharged from the hospitals.

The etiologic agents for the other cases (44) were identified in the final diagnoses as
Influenza A virus (11 cases), Influenza B virus (12 cases), Influenza C virus (1 case), Adenovirus
(1 case), Streptococcus pneumoniae (1 case), Bronchitis (4 cases), Nasopharyngitis (2 cases),
Pharyngitis (3 cases), common cold (2 cases), RSV infection (3 cases), Tonsillitis (1 case),
Rhinovirus (1 case), Hyperthyroid Fever (1 case) and Pneumonia (1 case). There are 220 cases
in which laboratory results are pending.


https://ddc.moph.go.th/viralpneumoni...o27-300163.pdf

According to Al Jazeera this morning - local news is a bit unreliable/made intentionally upbeat by the authorities - confirmed cases steady at 19, cases in which lab results are waiting at 344. There was a charter flight out of Thailand to Wuhan yesterday transporting Chinese citizens who may not have been able to board commercial flight(s).

The push/pull between the health of its citizens and tourism cash means that there are no restrictions on travel between China and Thailand as of today. ~ 17% of the GDP is tourism based. China represented ~ 27% tourist arrivals last year, at ~ 11 million. ~ 2 million Chinese tourists arrived in Thailand since the outbreak. The "government" is said to be setting up a committee to study the "options", like Visa restrictions. Local industries that rely on the bulk/zero dollar trade are said to be suffering.

Am I stupid for still wanting to go to Thailand.

I have a 2 day stopover in BKK coming up in a week (booked many months ago). Looking at the totals for reported incidents in Thailand, I wasn’t worried but the 2M number above has me a bit more concerned. My NH/TG ticket is non-refundable though I can change it to a later date with a penalty+will need to write off prepaid hotel costs. And would need to pay for a new ticket to the planned destination that avoids BKK. Irrational or prudent?

Assuming that the travel is an absolute requirement then maybe scope out options, have them ready if needed, but stick to the current itin. Maybe limit travel around Bangkok, stay in a hotel near the airport, avoid mass transpo? The biggest problem would be if Thailand were to be blacklisted. That might happen if it looks like the Thai authorities are not managing the situation up to acceptable standards.

Nothing really gets addressed here until it is fully engulfed in flames.

No, I’m here now. I’m being on the cautious end by wearing a mask and washing hands after being in crowded areas/China tourist zones ( eg on the bts or at chatachuk) but apart from that it’s basically bangkok as normal. Drinks this afternoon at house on salthorn, watch sun go down from octave, popped into iron balls for some drinks and dinner at supanniga.

The whole situation is getting a bit silly.

Are there currently temperature checks on arrival? If so, I presume they're delaying the immigration process?

M

Just the camera which was being monitored in a particularly Thai fashion.

Thailand claims to have successfully treated a corona virus patient:

https://viewfromthewing.com/a-corona...ay-be-working/


https://www.yahoo.com/news/thailand-...135019586.html

OK if the Thais are trying to preserve its tourism business, they might be inclined to make claims of curing the virus. But that health minister either really believes the cure works for he's going to become infected. Unless he was in full hazmat suit when talking to the patient.

For departures at SBIA/BKK there are reports (from yesterday) that Chinese passengers have to pass through a dedicated area. They might be doing the same for arrivals, within the VoA (even though the fee is waived) area? The regular departing security area was backed down the escalator, but once through that departing stamp-out at Immigration was not bad.

I'd allow plenty of time for a departure, maybe an extra hour just to be safe.

"Thai authorities are trying to balance screening of inbound Chinese visitors with the economic needs of its tourist sector, which is heavily reliant on arrivals from the mainland."

The "government" is taking quite a bit of heat for this stance. Add in the air pollution, shortage of masks, water shortages and the populace is losing confidence in their government.


I've seen temperature monitoring/thermal imaging stations around town, mostly in the entrances to BTS-connected malls. No clue what they do if they see someone hot?

Translated: Something bad needs to happen, and then we'll be REactive if it does.

"From 24 January to 2 February 2020 the screening protocol was implemented at Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Krabi, Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi airports among 12,163 passengers and air crew members from 229 flights travelling from China."

~ 40 flights arriving today (BKK+DMK) from mainland China

PUI up to 485
405 cases waiting for lab results

https://ddc.moph.go.th/viralpneumonia/eng/situation.php

https://ddc.moph.go.th/viralpneumoni...0-020263_1.pdf

It could be worse. In Cambodia, the dictator Hun Sen admonished people for wearing masks, plans to leave Cambodians in China and said it was too hot there for the virus.

https://www.phnompenhpost.com/nation...-too-hot-virus

Going to be in both Thailand & Cambodia within the next week. Flying into Bangkok for one night then off to Cambodia for 9 days and back to Bangkok for a few more days.

Annual winter vacation is becoming stressful. First it was with Iran air space since we are flying QR from Canada and now this. Oh well, I guess a person can't live in a bubble. We will try and take every precaution we can but life goes on.

Today's news:

- Six more infections confirmed, total of 25. Two were taxi drivers so.....

- S. Korean tourist contracts virus after visiting Thailand. No visits to China on record recently.

- Thai minister states coronavirus is in "transmission stage" in Thailand.