Covid-19 News & Updates

[Big Boy]

I've been noticing the same thing, and numbers are increasing significantly. The other interesting bit is the increasing number of infected foreigners..

[handdrummer]

Oh no, that would indicate incompetence, i.e., loss of face. Mustn't 'ave that, mate.

[huahin4ever]

Below is an example of what I see in the Bangkok Post each and everyday:

...."The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) said the new cases were 13 quarantined arrivals from Ukraine, Nepal, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Norway, Germany, the United States and Myanmar, and one local case in Chiang Rai."....

How can this be happening so frequently? These people just got off an airplane and were supposed to have been tested within 72 hours of departure, and obtained a "fit to fly" certificate. It seems highly probable that they were carrying Covid at time of departure the way the reports sound.

Or, are these cases like HHTel's daughter where the Thai testing may be picking up dead virus in the person's system from a previous infection?

I think there needs to be a close study of the Thai upon arrival testing procedures, and what the results are actually showing.

Nothing can be ruled out, but the test isn't before the 5th day in quarantine so I think it is more likely contracted after the initial test 72 hours prior departure. We have to remember non of the Thai passengers need a Covid test prior departure for Thailand.

YNWA

[HHTel]

If Thais have had Covid whilst out of the country, they have to get two negative tests 2 weeks apart before they're allowed to fly. Otherwise it's just a doctors certificate stating that you have no visible symptoms.

It would be interesting to identify how many of these returnees have had Covid and recovered only to test positive in quarantine in Thailand. The tests must be entered in your passport as per Thai Embassy rules.

[dtaai-maai]

How do the Thai authorities know whether or not a Thai national has had Covid while abroad?

[HHTel]

Just checked with my daughter. In the US, after testing positive, the US doctor entered it into her passport. Somehow, which is not clear, the Thai Embassy knew she'd had Covid and told her she'd need two negative tests.
I can only assume that the US informed the Thai Embassy.

Alternatively, she may have sent a copy of her passport to the embassy after her positive test. She said there was so much paperwork flying about that she can't remember.

[PeteC]

Chiang Rai Covid alert, 15 new cases linked to Tachilek

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... o-tachilek

A second hospital has been prepared to receive Covid-19 patients, with six new cases reported in Chiang Rai among people returning from working in Tachilek, in Myanmar.

Chiang Rai governor Prachon Pratsakul on Monday announced the six new infections found in Thai returnees, which had not yet been included in the daily update by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration.

The centre reported on Monday that nine Thais returning from Tachilek were among 21 new cases. The six new cases in Chiang Rai will be added in the centre's tally on Tuesday, for a total of 15.

Provincial public health chief Thossathep Boonthong said the new cases included four women who worked at the 1G1-7 Hotel in Tachilek. They returned and reported to authorities last Wednesday. Their tests on Sunday confirmed their infections.

The other two women had worked at the Hollywood nightclub and Karaoke bar in the Myanmar town, and returned on Saturday. Their tests on Sunday were also positive.

All are being treated at Chiang Rai Prachanukroh Hospital in Muang district.

Thailand has 38 cases directly and indirectly linked to people returning from Tachilek, 26 of them found in Chiang Rai, since the first was detected on Nov 24.

With the number of infections found in Chiang Rai on the rise, officials in the northern province are working with their Myanmar counterparts on the Thai-Myanmar Border Committee (TBC) to encourage Thais working in the Myanmar town to return through the official border checkpoint at the second Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge, hoping to contain the outbreak.

But although they return through the checkpoint they will still be charged with crossing illegally, because the border is officially closed.

Deputy provincial governor Narong Rojanasothorn said at least 42 Thais were due to return from Tachilek on Monday. "We are closely coordinating with Myanmar through the TBC," Mr Narong said.

The hotspot in Tachilek is the 1G1-7 Hotel. It promotes itself as an entertainment complex and is just 1.5 kilometres from the Thai border, Mae Sai district, and 2-3km from the permanent border crossing. It has foreign investors and offers a full range of pubs, young girls, drinks, karaoke and a casino.

Hundreds of Thais work there, according to Sophon Iamsirithaworn, director of the Communicable Diseases Division.

The hotel has been closed since Nov 24 due to the coronavirus outbreak in that area of Myanmar.

Chiang Rai authorities said they expect more Thais will flee Tachilek in fear of catching the virus.

Chiang Rai uses Chiang Rai Prachanukroh Hospital as the main base to treat infected people, including those from the Myanmar town.

Dr Thossathep said Mae Fah Luang Medical Centre at Mae Fah Luang University in Muang district was now ready to receive coronavirus patients if Chiang Rai Prachanukroh Hospital reaches full capacity.

He sought to ease concerns about the virus situation in the province, saying the cases from Tachilek were not severe infections, and health personnel could handle them.

The provincial health chief said the new facility at the university was prepared because authorities do not know how many Thais intend to return from Myanmar.

[PeteC]

The coronavirus spreading in Myanmar is a different strain that spreads 20% faster than the original one in Wuhan, according to Dr Prasit Watanapa, dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Siriraj Hospital.

Dr Prasit on Wednesday said around 60% of Covid-19 infections in Myanmar were caused by the G614 strain. The strain that spread in Wuhan last year was called D614.

The G614 strain has spread significantly in Western countries and is responsible for the most cases at present. "G614, which can spread faster, therefore needs a faster response," said the doctor............

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... mar-strain

[buksida]

Looks like the latest batch of infections were all workers at ASQ facilities in Bangkok:

Timeline of 5 infected cases in Bangkok
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) on Wednesday announced the timeline of five Covid-19 patients who are medical personnel at Alternative State Quarantine (ASQ) facilities.

BMA spokesperson Pongsakorn “Earth” Kwanmuang posted on his Facebook page that the medical personnel may have become infected by coming into contact with people undergoing self-isolation or other medical personnel.

He said the BMA and the Department of Disease Control have disinfected the patients’ residences and instructed medical personnel to perform their duties with caution and take a Covid-19 test immediately if they have any symptoms.

“We believe we can contain the spread of the disease in Bangkok until a vaccine arrives, so we would like to ask venues at risk of infection to strictly abide by BMA measures and recommendations,” he said.

“Moreover, everyone must protect themselves from the disease by wearing a face mask, washing your hands regularly, maintaining social distance and avoid going to risky areas,” he added.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30399398

[PeteC]

This is not good at all, and could be a restart of everything here once again. . The only thought I have at present is that there are thousands of Burmese workers in the fish canning and processing industry in Samut Sakhon and vicinity.

Shrimp farmer in Samut Sakhon tests positive

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... s-positive

SAMUT SAKHON: A wholesale shrimp farmer and vendor at a market in Muang district was found infected with Covid-19.

Provincial health officials from the Samut Sakhon public health office and municipal workers on Thursday cleaned and disinfected the shrimp market in tambon Mahachai of Muang district to stem the spread.

Thai media reported that the owner of a shrimp raft, a term used for people who farm shrimps on small rafts near the market and and sell their produce there by themselves, fell ill and sought treatment at Mahachai Hospital. She tested positive later.

Governor Veerasak Vijitsaengsri ordered provincial public health to spray around 30 shrimp rafts at the market and roads around the venue. Authorities are tracing her movements.

Dr Anukul Thaithanan, director of Samut Sakhon, said the patient was a 67-year-old woman. Results from two laboratories were positive. She is now hospitalised, PTV station reported.

According to Thai media, a preliminary investigation found she had not been abroad and that 18 people close to her had high risks, including six medical workers.

[PeteC]

Here we go. Unfortunately it appears that Wave #2 is here, or at least has a foot in the door. I hope they're good enough to get a handle on it quickly.

Samut Sakhon locked down as new cases top 500

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... es-top-500

https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/cri ... irus-cases

Samut Sakhon has been put under lockdown with a curfew from 10pm to 5am in effect until Jan 3 following a surge of more than 500 Covid-19 cases on Saturday.

People’s movements out of the province are also banned.

Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, director-general of the Department of Disease Control, said the 12 local infections initially reported earlier in the day had surged to 548 following the testing of 1,192 people in the province. Most of them are migrant workers from Myanmar.

“The rate of infection is 43% from tested people and 90% of them are asymptomatic,” he said during a televised briefing at 9pm Saturday.

“While there is a likelihood of finding more infections in crowded foreign communities around the shrimp market, they are low-risk groups because they are working age and healthy.”

The Ministry of Public Health, he said, had the capacity to handle the patients since the area was limited.

Dr Opas urged people in Samut Sakhon to refrain from going to other provinces.

Anyone who has visited the shrimp market since Dec 1 is also being advised to self-isolate for 14 days.

“If they develop a fever, cough, sore throat or lose their sense of smell or taste, they should seek medical help immediately,” he said.

The seafood processing hub just west of Bangkok had been free of coronavirus cases for 250 days until this week.

Samut Sakhon governor Weerasak Wijitsaengsri said the latest increase in infections was beyond expectations.

The Covid-19 alert level would remain elevated until Jan 3, with the Talad Klang Kung or Central Shrimp Market and Sri Muang dormitory designated as off-limits areas so that disease control operations can be carried out, he said.

Other locations in the province that will be closed temporarily include all kinds of entertainment venues, sports stadiums, boxing stadiums, schools and other educational institutions, tutorial schools, shopping malls, cinemas and spas.

Restaurants and other food venues will be allowed to sell takeaway only, while convenience stores will be closed between 10pm and 5am, the order said.

However, the local election would go ahead on Sunday as planned, along with other provincial council polls nationwide.

The spike in the province was the biggest one-day total by far in Thailand since the pandemic began. As of Saturday morning, the country had reported a cumulative total of 4,331 cases, ranked 152nd in the world.

The first of the new Samut Sakhon infections was detected earlier this week in a 67-year-old Thai woman who owns a shrimp wholesale business at the market. She had not travelled out of the country. Eight other infections have been linked to her, including three family members and five market workers, both Thai and Myanmar nationals.

The seafood industry in Samut Sakhon employs thousands of migrant workers from Myanmar. Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul suggested on Friday that the infection could have originated in the local migrant community, given that Myanmar has seen a surge in Covid cases since September.

As of Friday, the neighbouring country had reported 114,000 infections and 2,400 deaths.

Moe Kyaw Thu from the Raks Thai Foundation, which is coordinating testing, said it aimed to screen 4,000 people over the weekend in Mahachai, the location of the giant seafood market.

“The population in Mahachai is roughly 70% Thai and 30% migrant workers, which means the source of the virus spreading could come from migrant workers, particularly Myanmese workers,” he said.

Just hours before the jump of 500-plus cases was reported, the spokesman for the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) had said a lockdown was not needed yet but but steps would have to be taken if cases keep rising.

“If the number of cases won’t come down [on Sunday] or the day after and become a cluster with unfound origins, we will choose measures from light to strong to handle it,” said Dr Taweesilp Visanuyothin.

[huahin4ever]

Does this mean that traffic through Samut Sakhon is banned? If going from BKK to HH or opposite direction only passing through on Phetkasem Road??

YNWA

[Big Boy]

Certainly the road is not closed - we came through about 20:00hrs last night. However, our Thai driver always stops at Samut Sakhon for food. He received a phone alert (no idea what app he's using), which warned him not to stop, and we just drove straight through, stopping just after the left turn, near the big Golden Buddha.

[buksida]

After having almost a year to prepare for this inevitable second outbreak, the govt should be able to handle this easily. Somehow I don't think this will be the case, I hope I'm wrong.

It is typical of them to instantly blame foreigners though (which their own people have been profiting from in this case).

[HHTel]

I'm hearing people warning against eating prawns because of the danger of catching Covid!!

There is currently no evidence that people can catch COVID-19 from food or food packaging. COVID-19 is a respiratory illness and the transmission route is through person-to-person contact and through direct contact with respiratory droplets generated when an infected person coughs or sneezes.