Editorial
Since
mid-December, Thailand has reported over 2,000 cases linked to a new outbreak
of COVID-19 detected at a seafood market in Samut Sakhon province. The country
had previously seen a total of only around
4,300 COVID-19 cases between January and December.
Thai Prime
Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said in a statement
on December 22 that illegal migrants were responsible for the outbreak and
“have brought much grief to the country.” The prime minister’s comments, a
surge in online hate speech against migrants and a series of government
restrictions that only apply to migrants have prompted objections from migrant
advocates.
After the first confirmed cases, the government immediately shut down the market in Samut Sakhon and placed over 4,000 people in isolation. The government began testing over 40,000 people after months of almost no local transmissions. The new outbreak has spread to nearly 50 of Thailand’s 77 provinces though most cases have so far been
194 new Covid cases, including 181 local infections
85
published : 31 Dec 2020 at 13:29
85 Travellers leaving Bangkok by train from Hua Lamphong station on Wednesday, but New Year celebrations will be subdued. The resurgence of Covid-19 this month has already spread to 51 provinces, a government spokesman said on Thursday. (Photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)
The government on Thursday reported 194 new Covid-19 cases, 181 local infections and 13 among quarantined arrivals, raising the total to 6,884.
Taweesilp Visanuyothin, spokesman for the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, said the overall total included 4,869 local infections and 1,392 infected migrants. I do not want people to be complacent about the new cases dropping from the peak of 250 yesterday to 194 today, because there is still a substantial number of new cases pending verification. More new cases will be added on and on, he said.
Thailand logs 155 new Covid cases, 134 of them local
147
published : 29 Dec 2020 at 12:11
147 Air passengers walk past a thermal scanner at Don Mueang airport in Bangkok on Monday. Thailand logged 155 new Covid-19 cases on Tuesday. (Photo: Apichit Jinakul)
The government on Tuesday recorded 155 new Covid-19 cases 134 local infections, 11 migrants and 10 quarantined arrivals raising the accumulated total in Thailand to 6,440. The national death toll rose by one to 61.
Dr Taweesilp Visanuyothin, spokesman for the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, said 10 of the new cases were recent arrivals from Germany, Vietnam, India, Sweden, the United States, Turkey and Bahrain.
Twelve new cases were linked to the Central Shrimp Market outbreak in Samut Sakhon province and two new cases were linked to the gambling cluster in Rayong province.
19 Officials check the data of migrant workers at the Central Shrimp Market in Samut Sakhon province last Thursday. (Photo: Arnun Chonmahatrakool)
The cabinet on Tuesday approved the registration of illegal migrant workers from three countries who can stay in the country for two years in a bid to contain the novel coronavirus.
Deputy government spokesperson Traisuree Taisaranakul said online registration, set for Jan 25 to Feb 13, would allow Cambodian, Lao and Myanmar migrant workers to work in the country for two years, or until Feb 16, 2023.
The resolution was reached to cope with the new round of Covid-19 outbreaks, she said.
According to the deputy government spokesperson, many migrant workers were found to be infected in the new outbreak. When the government tried to test more of them in at-risk areas, many employers who had hired illegal migrants moved them to other areas and abandoned them there for fear of legal action.
144 new Covid cases, 115 local infections
63
published : 28 Dec 2020 at 12:59
63 Workers wait for Covid-19 tests outside the field hospital set up at the Central Shrimp Market in Muang district of Samut Sakhon on Sunday. The market is the epicentre of the new Covid-19 outbreak. (Photo: Apichit Jinakul)
The government on Monday reported 144 new Covid-19 cases - 115 local infections, 14 migrant workers and 15 quarantined arrivals - raising the total to 6,285.
Dr Taweesilp Visanuyothin, spokesman of the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, said local infections linked to the outbreak in Samut Sakhon were reported from Sukhothai province (1 case), Pathum Thani (2), Nonthaburi (2), Nakhon Nayok (2), Nakhon Pathom (17), Samut Sakhon (1), Samut Prakan (5), Bangkok (10) and Lop Buri (1).