Thailand reports four new COVID-19 infections
People wait at a bus stop in Bangkok on June 18, 2020, as sectors of the Thai economy are being reopened following restrictions to halt the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. (Photo by Romeo GACAD / AFP)
On Friday, Thailand recorded four new COVID-19 cases, all among quarantined returnees from abroad, as the country reaches 32 consecutive days without a single local transmission.
The new cases bring cumulative infections in Thailand to 3,162, with 3,040 recoveries and 64 still in hospital. No new fatalities were recorded, so the death toll remains 58.
CCSA spokesman Dr. Taweesin Visanuyothin told a news briefing that two of the new infections are Thai women, aged 22 and 27, who entered state quarantine on June 24th, after their arrival from Sudan. One of the women had a fever and the other had a sore throat and anosmia.
The two others are also women, aged 32 and 53, who worked as masseuses in United Arab Emirates and entered quarantine in Bangkok. Both asymptomatic, they tested positive for coronavirus on June 24th.
He disclosed that, so far, there have been 225 infections, including 177 males and 48 females, among those in quarantine. The youngest infected patient is only six years old and the oldest is 77. 99.1% of them are Thai citizens.
Dr. Taweesin said that there was a discussion within the CCSA about whether the quarantine period for Thai returnees from abroad should be extended to more than 14 days but, in the end, it was agreed that the 14-day period was appropriate and does not need to be extended.
Commenting on criticism that it may be too soon to ease restrictions in the fifth phase, the spokesman said the fact that Thailand has not recorded a local transmission for 32 consecutive days has increased confidence up to only a certain level.
He cited the case of China, where the second wave occurred after the country was free from new cases for more than 50 days. This, he said, has led a number of people in Thailand to believe that there will be a second wave, but no one knows when.
Regarding travel bubble tourism, Dr. Taweesin said that the issue remains open, but he anticipated that the first group of foreigners to be allowed into Thailand, under such an arrangement, would be in August at the latest adding, however, that people infected with COVID-19 and seeking treatment in Thailand would not be allowed into the country.
