Thailand today has recorded six new COVID-19 cases, all among arrivals from abroad who are in state quarantine.
According to the CCSA, the six new infections include a Thai soldier returning from South Sudan, two each from India and the United Arab Emirates and one from Japan.
Cumulative infections in Thailand, to date, are 3,575. Five more people have recovered today, bringing the total number of recoveries to 3,384. 132 infected people are still being treated in hospital and the death toll remains 59.
Meanwhile, Dr. Thira Vorathanarat, of the Faculty of Medicine at Chulalongkorn University, said in his Facebook post today that there is a possibility that Thailand will face a second wave of infections from two probable sources, namely migrant workers from Myanmar and foreign tourists.
He said that repeated infections often happen unexpectedly, spread widely and quickly. They are difficult to contain and to ascertain the source or sources of infections and he suggests that Thai businesses and households, who hire migrant workers, especially from Myanmar, have them properly registered and tested for COVID-19 in groups of 5-10 which, he said, will help save costs.
As for selected foreign tourists, who are to be allowed into the country, Dr. Thira said he doesn’t think government officials will be able to keep all of them in quarantine during the 14-day mandatory period, noting that some might slip out and spread the disease if they are infected.
The best prevention for people in general is to wear face masks while outdoors and to go for tests immediately if they develop symptoms associated with coronavirus.
Dr. Thira said that Thailand shares its border to the South with Malaysia and with Myanmar to the west, where the virus is still spreading.
