Thailand records five new COVID-19 cases in state quarantine
Students have their temperatures checked and receive hand sanitiser to disinfect their hands as they arrive at the Makkasan Phitthaya government secondary school in Bangkok on July 1, 2020, as schools reopened after being temporarily closed due to the threat of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus. – Children across Thailand, some of whom have been kept at home under self-quarantine by their parents due to coronavirus fears, have now returned to their classrooms as all schools reopen in the country, though authorities recommended that class sizes be restricted to 20-25 students while doorknobs, desks and other areas at risk of spreading infection be sanitised frequently throughout the day. (Photo by Romeo GACAD / AFP)
Thailand recorded five new COVID-19 cases today (Thursday), all returnees from abroad and in state quarantine. There were no new fatalities.
CCSA spokesman Dr. Taweesin Visanuyothin said that four of the new infections are Thai freelancers working in the United Arab Emirates, and the fifth is a Thai student returning from Egypt with anosmia.
He said that only 51.2% of infected Thais returning from abroad are symptomatic. He added that there are an increasing number of asymptomatic infections among the returnees.
Cumulative infections in Thailand, to date, are 3,202, with 3,085 recoveries and 59 are still being treated in hospital. The death toll remains 58.
Globally, 214,892 new infections were recorded today, bringing the cumulative total to 12,164,173, with the United States still the topping the list with 3,158,932 cases, followed by Brazil’s 1,716,196 and India’s 769,052.
In ASEAN, Indonesia ranks the top of the list, logging 68,079 cases to date, compared to about 50,000 in the Philippines. Thailand is ranked 99th.
Regarding public opinion on travel bubble tourism, a survey shows that 45.2% do not support the plan, against 37.9% who support it. 13.7% say they are very supportive of the plan. 69.2% object to the resumption of international air services, against 19.0% who support it.
40.5% are confident of the Government’s ability to control a second wave of COVID-19 infections, and 14.8% claim to be very confident, while 10.2% say they are not confident at all and 28.6% are not confident.
Dr. Taweesin explained that Government guests and businessmen, arriving in Thailand for short visits, do not need to be quarantined for 14 days, similar to officials working at Suvarnabhumi international airport.
Foreigners arriving in Thailand for medical or wellness services and their companions, however, will be quarantined at their hospitals for 14 days, he added.
