Thailand has recorded five new COVID-19 cases among foreign arrivals and Thai returnees in state quarantine today.

According to the CCSA, one is a 26-year old Filipino, who arrived in Thailand on September 23^rd and entered state quarantine in Bangkok.  He was given the first test on September 26^th, but the result was unclear and a second test was conducted three days later, producing a positive result. Though without symptoms, he was admitted to a private hospital in Bangkok.

The second case is a 41-year old Indian trader, arriving from India on September 25^th and entering hotel based quarantine in Bangkok. He developed a sore throat and a fever on September 27^th.  A test was conducted two days later, which confirmed his infection and he was admitted for treatment.

A couple from Brazil arrived in Thailand on September 28^th and also entered hotel based quarantine in Bangkok.  Both tested positive the next day and were admitted to hospital in Bangkok.

The fifth case is a 48-year old Thai man, arriving from Iran on September 24^th and entering state quarantine in Chon Buri.  He tested positive for the virus five days later and was admitted to a provincial hospital.

Cumulative infections in Thailand, to date, are 3,569, including 2,445 locally transmitted cases and 631 imported cases.  3,379 people have recovered and 131 others are still being treated in hospital. The death toll remains 59.

Meanwhile, Dr. Thanarak Phlipat, Deputy Director-General of the Disease Control Department, said yesterday that the Public Health Ministry is ready to review the 14-day mandatory quarantine for all arrivals from abroad, but not at the expense of public safety.

For the time being, he said that 14 days is appropriate and in compliance with international standard practice, adding that, in order to ease this restriction, all related aspects, including economic and public safety, must be taken into consideration.

Thailand’s goal, he said, is to detect the infections as quickly as possible and to prevent the virus from spreading.  Another goal, he added, is to maintain the balance between health safety, people’s livelihoods and the economy.

Dr. Thanarak noted that the biggest current threat to Thailand is the outbreak in Myanmar, as he urged all parties concerned to monitor and stop illegal migrant workers from Myanmar entering Thailand.