Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha has urged the United Nations to play a leading role in ensuring that all countries get equal access to COVID-19 vaccines, if and when they become available.

In his address to the United Nations General Assembly, via tele-conference on Saturday (Friday afternoon New York time), Thailand’s Prime Minister said that all countries must have belief in multi-lateral cooperation in the fight against COVID-19, as he offered moral support to all countries for their efforts to contain the pandemic.

As far as Thailand is concerned, the Prime Minister said that his administration set up the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), to cope with the pandemic in the country, in compliance with the guidelines set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Health Regulations of 2005.

He also said that the Government has established the Economic Situation Administration Centre, as the main mechanism forcoordination between the public and private sectors in the issuance of joint policies, to revive the economy, under the concept of “Bio-Circular-Green Economy”, with the application of the self-sufficiency economic philosophy for sustainable growth.

He thanked the WHO for recognizing Thailand’s success in containing the disease and said that the country is willing to share its experience and cooperate with the international community.

The Prime Minister reiterated Thailand’s support for all agendaof the United Nations, be they related to peace, security, development, climate change, human rights or multi-lateral partnerships, to bring the world through COVID-19 crisis.

Meanwhile, three new COVID-19 cases were recorded in Thailand today, all among arrivals from abroad.

According to the CCSA, one is a 49-year old German cabin crew member, who arrived in Thailand from Luxemburg and entered alternative state quarantine in Chon Buri on September 20th. He underwent a test on September 24th and left the country on the same day, before the positive test result was available.

Another is a 51-year old Turkish cabin crew member, who arrived in Thailand from Turkey on September 21st and entered alternative state quarantine in Chon Buri.  He was tested on September 24th, the same day on which he left Thailand. He was also found to be infected, but with no symptoms.

The third case is a 51-year old Albanian teacher, who arrived in Thailand on September 21st and entered alternative state quarantine in Bangkok.  He tested positive for the virus three days later.

Cumulative infections in Thailand, to date, are 3,522, with 3,362 recoveries. 101 others are still being treated in hospital and the death toll remains 59.