Thailand and Bangkok ‘most at risk’ from coronavirus, scientists warn

[webfact]

Thailand and Bangkok ‘most at risk’ from coronavirus, scientists warn

 

Chinese tourists wearing protective masks are pictured at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi international airport in Thailand, January 25, 2020. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

 

Bangkok is the city outside of China most at risk from the coronavirus, scientists in the UK have warned.

 

According to a report by the WorldPop team at the University of Southampton, Bangkok faces the biggest threat from coronavirus due to the sheer number of travellers from China, and in particular the number of travellers who originate from Wuhan and neighbouring provinces. 

 

Hong Kong (China) was second on the list, followed by Taipei (Taiwan, the Republic of China). Sydney (12), New York (16) and London (19) are among 30 other major international cities ranked in the research.

 

The report found that Thailand was also the country most at risk from the spread of the spread of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV).

 

The most 'at-risk' countries or regions worldwide are Thailand (1), Japan (2) and Hong Kong (3). USA is placed 6th on the list, Australia 10th and the UK 17th, the report said. 

 

Within mainland China, the cities of Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Chongqing are all identified as high-risk by the researchers, along with the Chinese provinces of Guangdong, Zhejiang, Sichuan and Henan.

 

The report echoes a similar warning by travel market research firm m1nd-set which has predicted the coronavirus outbreak will affect Thailand the most as a destination by “quite a long margin”.

 

Figures compiled by m1nd-set revealed that Thailand accounts for 33% of the circa 1.4 million outbound flights from Wuhan, with both Survanabhumbi and Don Mueang accounting for 21% of international traffic from Wuhan, which combined is more than double any other destination outside of China. 

 

 

The news comes after Thailand on Tuesday confirmed its 14 cases of coronavirus infection - the highest number outside of China.

 

Also on Tuesday, Thailand’s public health minister Anutin Charnvirakul told Sky News that he expects the number of infections in the country to rise.

 

He also said that while the situation is currently under control, Thailand is not able to stop the spread of new coronavirus.

 

“We are not able to stop the spread,” he said.

 

"Our target is we will be able to detect all carriers entering Thailand and we will apply necessary measures as the situation develops.

 

"Of course we expect more people to get sick but we are able to identify all of them."

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-01-29

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[Flugg]

Putting the whole nation at risk so the top 1 ‰ can get richer.

[sucit]

Bangkok is basically a petri dish of corona, according to the scientists. 

[ianezy0]

Too many reasons to justify wearing a quality mask at the moment.

1. Coronavirus.

2. Burn offs (Pollution)

3. Traffic fumes (pollution)

 

[RotBenz8888]

Waiting for TATs respond.

[darksidedog]

What concerns me the most is the likely inability by the authorities to shut areas down to prevent any problems spreading. Worsened of course by the tourism industry still desperately encouraging possibly more virus carriers to come and spend their money here.

[silverhawk_usa]

A recent report on U.S. television stated that masks are not effective in preventing a virus. It said it could possibly be of some aid as a person is less likely to touch their nose or mouth with their virus carrying hands while wearing a mask. 

[khunpa]

Sky News claims Thailand’s Health Minister has admitted that they can not stop this.

 

Yesterday the PM said it was 100% under control.

 

The fact is that it is already too late for Thailand and the country will suffer huge from this.

 

The big question is now, is how Thais will react to this, when hospitals start to get overcrowded? Because there is a good chance Bangkok will become like Wuhan.

[buick]

8 minutes ago, silverhawk_usa said:

A recent report on U.S. television stated that masks are not effective in preventing a virus. It said it could possibly be of some aid as a person is less likely to touch their nose or mouth with their virus carrying hands while wearing a mask. 

i've read similar warnings which also say to be very careful when removing the mask.  don't touch your face during the process (carefully use ear straps only for removal) and only use the mask once (that is for the standard surgical mask which as noted above, isn't 100% reliable in term of protection from the virus).

[buick]

11 minutes ago, khunpa said:

Sky News claims Thailand’s Health Minister has admitted that they can not stop this.

 

Yesterday the PM said it was 100% under control.

isn't this just great stuff !!!

[DeeMak9]

41 minutes ago, Flugg said:

Putting the whole nation at risk so the top 1 ‰ can get richer.

Nothing new. Happens every year during burning season ????

 

Disgusting.

[Grumpy John]

Why did "We all live on a Yellow Submarine" jump into my brain....simply because they don't have a rocket to fly to the moon where there is a secret Thai lunar base for Prayut and the gang to run down Thailand.....sorry,  I  meant govern Thailand.   Of course the time is different up there and there would be lots of lunar ticks.    

[Lemonltr]

If Thailand is No. 1 risk it should be No. 1 ahead of the world in prevention. As isolation seems to be the main answer they should stop all arrivals from China. The economic effect eventually will be much greater if they do not

[thisisrascal]

My 30 day's are up in ten days time but I'm giving serious consideration to getting out of dodge ASAP. 

 

The only thing holding me back is I don't fancy going to the airport. 

Edited January 29, 2020 by thisisrascal

[Traubert]

1 hour ago, sucit said:

Bangkok is basically a petri dish of corona, according to the scientists. 

Sounds highly scientific I must say.

[Stocky]

2 hours ago, sucit said:

a petri dish of corona

...with a wedge of lime?

[FritsSikkink]

1 hour ago, DeeMak9 said:

Nothing new. Happens every year during burning season ????

 

Disgusting.

That is not the 1% but the famers who are too lazy to do it by hand or machine.

Edited January 29, 2020 by FritsSikkink

[Mavideol]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

“We are not able to stop the spread,” he said.

but Prayut said that everything was under control....whom to believe?

[SkyFax]

2 hours ago, khunpa said:

Sky News claims Thailand’s Health Minister has admitted that they can not stop this.

That was rather a selective edit of the SkyNews report. The Health Minister went on to say:

 

... (P)ublic health minister Anutin Charnvirakul admitted to Sky News that he expects the number of infections to rise.

"We are not able to stop the spread," he said.

"Our target is we will be able to detect all carriers entering Thailand and we will apply necessary measures as the situation develops.

"Of course we expect more people to get sick but we are able to identify all of them."

 

https://news.sky.com/story/thailand-not-able-to-stop-the-spread-of-new-coronavirus-11919860

 

 

Edited January 29, 2020 by SkyFax

[Mavideol]

1 hour ago, Lemonltr said:

If Thailand is No. 1 risk it should be No. 1 ahead of the world in prevention. As isolation seems to be the main answer they should stop all arrivals from China. The economic effect eventually will be much greater if they do not

the greedy of Thailand doesn't allow them to be pro-active/preventive or anything that stop the influx of money into the country

[zydeco]

2 hours ago, khunpa said:

Because there is a good chance Bangkok will become like Wuhan.

Wuhan with bad/worse air.

[zydeco]

8 minutes ago, SkyFax said:

"Our target is we will be able to detect all carriers entering Thailand and we will apply necessary measures as the situation develops.

"Of course we expect more people to get sick but we are able to identify all of them."

These last two comments are straight from the loony bin. Can't do either. Might be "targets," but ones his peashooter hasn't got a chance in hell of hitting.

[Docno]

2 hours ago, silverhawk_usa said:

A recent report on U.S. television stated that masks are not effective in preventing a virus. It said it could possibly be of some aid as a person is less likely to touch their nose or mouth with their virus carrying hands while wearing a mask. 

I think it might depend on the type of mask. The cheap, light surgical masks can be useful to stop one touching one's nose and mouth, as you say, and it prevents small droplets of others' mucous (yuck) from getting to you. But it's usefulness is probably limited. I was in Singapore during SARS and still have an N95 mask from that time (my university distributed them for free). They worked much better, and they are what emergency medical workers are wearing now in the field. But they are very uncomfortable to wear.  

[bridge2bridge]

31 minutes ago, Mavideol said:

but Prayut said that everything was under control....whom to believe?

NO ONE

[Moonfire]

1. Ban all travel from China for 18 days and then only receive flights to one airport with extra screening in place before the travels mix with others at the airport.

 

2. Close all schools for two weeks.

 

3. Close all massage places for two weeks.

 

4. If companies can allow workers to remote work from home enact that as well.

 

Pay a little upfront for the inconvenience or pay much more later.   

Edited January 29, 2020 by Moonfire

[248900_1469958220]

Correct me if I am wrong but wouldnt the virus be less likely to survive in the heat that is here now, and the hotter temps to come? Flu virus likes cold or at least cooler weather than 33 + degrees celcius, surely ?

[simtemple]

2 hours ago, silverhawk_usa said:

A recent report on U.S. television stated that masks are not effective in preventing a virus. It said it could possibly be of some aid as a person is less likely to touch their nose or mouth with their virus carrying hands while wearing a mask. 

Chinese Doctors are recommending disposable eye goggles. 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-7926243/Killer-coronavirus-SPREAD-eyes.html

[richsilver]

Isn't this report outdated since China has now prevented all travel out of Wuhan?

[Jeff G]

Measles is 12 times more contagious than the Corona virus. 12 times!!! Yes, caution is required but this thing is not even as serious as measles or driving a car or scooter here. It does sell a lot of newspapers and advertisements which is the reason it’s “breaking news” all day long. 

[30la]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand and Bangkok ‘most at risk’ from coronavirus, scientists warn

I don't know what to believe anymore, the well educated PM or a handful of scientists who think they know everything! ????????