How prepared is Thailand to deal with coronavirus outbreak?

 

 

Thailand on Tuesday announced its 14th case of coronavirus infection, which is the highest outside of China. 

 

Scientists and academics around the world have warned that Thailand is the country most at risk from the spread of coronavirus, due to the number of people who have travelled from Wuhan, the city at the centre of the outbreak, to Thailand. 

 

Even Thailand’s public health minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, has admitted that while the situation is under control, Thailand is unable to stop the spread of the disease.

 

Which begs the question, how prepared is Thailand to deal with the coronavirus or indeed an outbreak of any other new disease?

 

In October 2019, the Global Health Security Index examined which countries across the world are best and worst prepared to deal with an epidemic or pandemic. 

 

According to its website, the GHS Index is the first comprehensive assessment of global health security capabilities in 195 countries.

 

With the outbreak of coronavirus, the topic has once again been thrust into the spotlight.

 

While members of the public have been critical of the response to the outbreak by the Thai authorities, Thailand is actually one of the countries best prepared to deal with an epidemic/pandemic.

 

The Global Health Security Index analysed the preparation levels of each country by focusing on whether they have sufficient tools in place to deal with large scale outbreaks of disease. Scores were then measured on a scale of 0 to 100 with 100 being the highest level of preparedness.

 

The index found that only 13 countries had sufficient resources to put up a fight against a pandemic. The good news is that Thailand is one of them. 

 

 

The United States, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, were found to have the strongest measures in place to deal with an outbreak.

 

Thailand was ranked 6th overall, the highest ranking of any Asian country and also the highest ranking of any non ‘high income’ country. 

 

China was ranked in 51st place overall. 

 

What is Thailand doing to reduce the risk of infections from coronavirus?

 

Thailand has introduced a number of measures in order to try and reduce the risk from infections of coronavirus.

 

The latest and most significant is that as of Tuesday (28 Jan) all passengers from China will be screened on entry to Thailand. Passengers will have their temperature taken and anyone showing a high temperature or flu-like symptoms will be sent to hospital for further treatment.

 

 

 

Flights between Wuhan and Thailand have already been suspended, while some airlines have also begun disinfecting aircraft arriving from China. 

 

Military medical units have also been dispatched to 10 international airports in Thailand to provide further assistance with the screen process.

 

Meanwhile, Thailand’s state railway, key transport modes, shopping malls hospitals and hotels have stepped up hygiene measures in a bid to halt the spread of coronavirus. 

 

Stations with sanitising hand gels have been installed at shopping malls nationwide, while retailers have instructed staff to wear face masks.

 

What should you do?

 

The official advice from the Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health is to:

 

1. Regularly wash your hands with soap
2. Sneeze into a tissue or flexed elbow and not your hands
3. Avoid close contact with anyone who shows flu like symptoms
4. Ensure meat and eggs are cooked thoroughly prior to eating
5. No unprotected contacted with wild or farm animals

 

You may also consider using hand sanitizer in order to help keep your hands clean. 

Some people have started wearing facemasks, although expert opinion is mixed on the benefits of this.

 

 

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

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So what are you meant to do if you suspect you have the virus?

 

Head to the local hospital and sneeze over everyone there? or something else?

Edited January 29, 20206 yr by scubascuba3

6 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

So what are you meant to do if you suspect you have the virus?

My first instinct is take the week off with plenty of bed rest. I wouldn't be surprised to have to pay a premium to be quarantined.

8 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

So what are you meant to do if you suspect you have the virus?

 

Head to the local hospital and sneeze over everyone there? or something else?

I would suggest that that is the time to put a mask on. Or carry something to sneeze into. Then go to the hospital.

 

An article in praise of Thailand? This will run and run. Come on, who knows better than The Global Health Security Index? ???? Tough one to discredit with America and UK being top. Some people are going to be fulminating today. ????

3 minutes ago, Greyhat said:

My first instinct is take the week off with plenty of bed rest. I wouldn't be surprised to have to pay a premium to be quarantined.

i guess my point is they should be telling people what to do. I read somewhere that govt hospitals are covering the cost

14 minutes ago, webfact said:

while the situation is under control, Thailand is unable to stop the spread of the disease.

So everything is under control ... until it isn't

Well that's some good news at least. 

 

I wonder why Germany and France are so low. 

17 minutes ago, webfact said:

No unprotected contacted with wild or farm animals

But if they are properly cooked?

5 minutes ago, Traubert said:

I would suggest that that is the time to put a mask on. Or carry something to sneeze into. Then go to the hospital.

 

An article in praise of Thailand? This will run and run. Come on, who knows better than The Global Health Security Index? ???? Tough one to discredit with America and UK being top. Some people are going to be fulminating today. ????

I’m taking bets as to which poster will be the first to call this report as fake news lol. 

23 minutes ago, webfact said:

How prepared is Thailand to deal with coronavirus outbreak?

how prepared? not at all

3 minutes ago, Gweiloman said:

I’m taking bets as to which poster will be the first to call this report as fake news lol. 

of course it's fake news!

 

the authorities claim they have the situation 100% under control.

7 minutes ago, thisisrascal said:

Well that's some good news at least. 

 

I wonder why Germany and France are so low. 

France has refused to screen the arrival at the airports

because it's useless, someone can be infected (And contagious) without any fever

plus it creates a false feeling of security for all the passengers while they are not safe at all.

 

I wonder how Thailand can be high ranked for being well prepared

for example the face masks are out of stock in shops since the begining of the crisis here

i don't even talk about the silly advice of the minister of tourism to go in the crowded shopping malls

or the decision to still let's going the flights from the infected area at the first cases detected here.

(Only the China decision to close the area has stopped the flux of chineses from Wuhan

to Thailand)

8 minutes ago, Gweiloman said:

I’m taking bets as to which poster will be the first to call this report as fake news lol. 

Did I win?  Paid for "Index" "Statista" is a business boosting index! ???? 

26 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

So what are you meant to do if you suspect you have the virus?

 

Head to the local hospital and sneeze over everyone there? or something else?

As per yesterdays announcement, head for your local shopping centre where the staff have been trained and emergency procedures are in place. But seriously, maybe better to ring a hospital and ask for advice

Thailand has the resources, no doubt about that. And they have very good medical facilities. But, do they have competent leadership? This is an emergency situation. It needs to be dealt with, and it needs a high degree of intelligence and competence. Not something Prayuth or Pipat possess. Someone else needs to handle this, and it needs to be handled yesterday!

 

This is really going to hurt tourism. What the authorities do not seem to get is that quantity over quality is never a good thing, unless you are selling one dollar items at a swap meet. It just lowers the quality of the experience for all. The tourism industry is teetering on the edge of a tragic drop, and has already been devastated by this highly destructive administration. All it needs now is a spread of this virus. It could crush millions of families dependent on tourism. I already know one family that has cancelled their trip over here. Why take a chance? Who can trust the Thai authorities, and what they say? Why trust them? What have they done to earn that trust?

 

And how many flights from China, are still coming into Thailand daily? That is a scary thought. I like the Chinese people, but do not want to be anywhere near them right now!

 

 

9 minutes ago, potless said:

maybe better to ring a hospital and ask for advice

I tried to ring Pattaya City Hospital once, couldn't get anything coherent out of them so i suspect calling may be futile

21 minutes ago, RotBenz8888 said:

But if they are properly cooked?

Especially in Isaan  where you eat raw beef lap;
I have tasted it once in 14 years;
luckily there is a ton of chili in it ...

 

theoretically it should kill even the corona virus? 

2 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

I tried to ring Pattaya City Hospital once, couldn't get anything coherent out of them so i suspect calling may be futile

Try one of the main private hospitals if only for advice. They speak good English.

36 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

I read somewhere that govt hospitals are covering the cost

My guess would be only until they find you do NOT have the virus , then its full on fleece mode

My Wife was a Nurse in Thailand for 25 years and she says that the only things Thailand is well equipped for is more rampant corruption on an ever increasing scale and Government Ministers lying through their teeth about everything.

 

There are only four Isolation Wards properly equipped in the whole of the North, two in Chiang Mai and two in Lamphun, so does that sound like being 'Very well prepared for a Pandemic' ?

1 hour ago, RichardColeman said:

My guess would be only until they find you do NOT have the virus , then its full on fleece mode

Yes you are probably right although I'd head to Bang Lamung Hospital where they are less likely to stiff you

Humans are truly strange animals, first they create viruses, then calmly warn the public (to trigger a paranoia), then they create medicines for this virus but, terror is now worldwide and with this terror reigns peaceful for a few years !

2 hours ago, Mavideol said:

how prepared? not at all

The truthful answer...

2 hours ago, Traubert said:

Tough one to discredit with America and UK being top. Some people are going to be fulminating today.

And with China no where in sight, the wumaos will be having a stroke.

3 minutes ago, car720 said:

Thailand can do whatever they do but it is also one of the major world tourism destinations as well as a major transit hub.  If they quarantine Wuhan what will they do about Thailand?

Don't worry, as usual Thailand do nothing at all

they wait untill the others take the good decisions 

(In fact here China has decided to stop the flight from the infected area)

or untill the s..t hit the fan

 

1 hour ago, trainman34014 said:

There are only four Isolation Wards properly equipped in the whole of the North, two in Chiang Mai and two in Lamphun, so does that sound like being 'Very well prepared for a Pandemic' ?

Considering there's only been 15 cases in Thailand and 5 of them recovered and went home, yes.

 

They're just keeping in step with reality and not panicking. It's sort of important in these situations.

Plenty of tiger balm in stock.

2 hours ago, Assurancetourix said:

Especially in Isaan  where you eat raw beef lap;
I have tasted it once in 14 years;
luckily there is a ton of chili in it ...

 

theoretically it should kill even the corona virus? 

Then I've got nothing to fear. Love chili.

27 minutes ago, zydeco said:

And with China no where in sight, the wumaos will be having a stroke.

If there even was such a thing, do you really think that they would care what a bunch of washed up old grandmothers think? 

 

Don't overestimate yourself. Even Thailand doesn't care.

1. Stop all flights from China

 

2. Round up all the Chinese already here and send them back