I live in Thailand (Chiang Mai) and am really having a hard time understanding exactly how the government is handling the situation with regard to COVID-19. Unlike Vietnam which seems to have a very strong proactive approach to dealing with the outbreak, and are being highly transparent in public communications concerning the state of affairs through their Public Health website, and even an app that sends you notifications of news and advice, Thailand does not seem to be providing the same level of communication with the public.
Information coming from the Ministry of Public Health is often conflicting and confusing. Information is often posted one day, and then retracted or changed the next. Does anybody have a source of reliable and well-vetted information?
To give you a few examples of my concern, consider the following:
The Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak is still only at the second stage in Thailand, permanent secretary for public health Sukhum Kanchanapimai said on 12 March, meaning the spread is still limited and mostly confined to overseas returnees, foreigners from affected countries and those in close contact with either group.
But an association of doctors is warning that the nation might not be equipped for a rise to Stage 3, the highest level, a full-blown epidemic, and is slamming the government’s “slow response” to the spread of the disease.
In an emotionally charged warning on its Facebook page (
link), the Thoracic Society of Thailand said that this week’s rise in the number of cases, particularly those attributed to local transmission, indicates that the country is beginning to enter Stage 3.
In Stage 3, all hospitals, whether public or private must identify all patients with Covid-19 infections and isolate them to cut the rate of transmission.
The society also criticised government agencies responsible for combating the virus, saying, "“The virus outbreak has shown that state mechanisms designed to respond to national crises are always one step behind.
Countering this, Tares Krassanairawiwong, director-general of the Health Service Support Department, says that the department issued an order, effective from March 5, prohibiting private hospitals from turning away emergency cases of Covid-19 infection. If it’s necessary to refer patients elsewhere, they must ensure transport is arranged properly and must not let patients travel to seek treatment themselves.
He also said that all hospitals under the ministry’s control will receive N95 medical masks and other necessary protective uniforms today, and that the government will provide full support to all medical staff fighting against the disease, including extra pay.
The emergency operation centre under the Disease Control Department has compiled a report which suggests that Thailand remains unlikely to enter Stage 3, as the existing measures can still theoretically control the spread of the virus.
He also said that all hospitals under the ministry’s control will receive N95 medical masks and other necessary protective uniforms today, and that the government will provide full support to all medical staff fighting against the disease, including extra pay.
The emergency operation centre under the Disease Control Department has compiled a report which suggests that Thailand remains unlikely to enter Stage 3, as the existing measures can still theoretically control the spread of the virus.
SO...who are you supposed to believe? It really seems to me that there is a lot of confusion and varying opinions from scientific experts and public officials in Thailand right now, and personally I find it concerning, especially when reported cases continue to rise.
Is there or is there not community transmission? Where are the clusters? What provinces (or cities) are new cases being reported in? I keep searching to find answers to these sort of questions and find no one even talking about them.
I see no information at all that really details what the testing strategy is, or what the PRECISE criteria is for those that should be tested, or how many tests are actually being administered.
I see no definitive information on who and who is not being allowed to enter the country, or what type of actual screening is being conducted. Is it merely those thermometer guns that are being used to screen inbound passengers at the airports? If so, many potentially infected people will not be identified, and that's a very worrisome prospect IMHO.
Right now, the typical "man in the street" seems to be unconcerned, judging by what i see here in Chiang Mai. I see plenty of people out and about every day. Some wear masks but many do not. People seem aware of the danger, but not that concerned. Is this a well founded sentiment or is it not?
Anyway, if anyone can add some objective and FACTUAL information about all of this, I'd certainly appreciate hearing about it.
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