Thailand reports three new COVID-19 infections
Thailand recorded three new COVID-19 cases for the second consecutive day today (Monday), bringing the cumulative total 3,031, with no new fatalities.
The new cases include a 29-year old a female worker in Bangkok and her 55-year old male colleague. Both went to a hospital in Nonthaburi for tests and were eventually admitted for treatment. The third is a 27-year old sales representative in Phuket, who had been in contact with an infected person.
CCSA spokesman Dr. Taweesin Visanuyothin said today that the two new cases in Bangkok worked with four colleagues who had previously tested positive for COVID-19.
The country’s death toll remains 56. Altogether, 2,857 patients have returned home and 118 remain in hospital.
While maintaining the right to free movement, Dr. Taweesin said that inter-provincial travel causes the spread of the virus, citing the new infection figures before and after the imposition of state of emergency on March 26th.
He said that there were fewer cases across the country before March 26th, but a subsequent mass exodus of people from Bangkok resulted in new infections, before health officials managed to curb the spread.
He asked anyone who loses the sense of smell or taste to see a doctor immediately, even if they do not have fever.
Thailand is 70th on the world ranking of accumulated infections, and 10th in Asia. Topping the list in the region is India, with 95,698 infections and 3,025 deaths. Singapore tops the list among ASEAN countries, with 28,038 total infections and 22 deaths.
Dr. Taweesin said that, in South Korea, the health chief identified lax discipline as the main obstacle to containing the pandemic, and the Italian Prime Minister has warned of re-imposition of strict lockdown measures if a second wave of infections is detected after some easing.
Thailand’s Disease Control Department, meanwhile, conducted a random survey of 2,375 business and leisure facilities, namely markets, food shops and stalls, minimarts and super markets, public parks and stadia, beauty salons, barber’s shops and pet grooming shops between May 7th and 15th.
The survey shows they have done well in the areas of providing sanitizer gel or alcohol for hand washing, face mask wearing by both the customers and the operators and social distancing.
