Patient in Chiang Mai hospital found to be carrying coronavirus

By THE NATION

 

 

A patient who had come to the Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital for treatment later tested positive for the new coronavirus, the hospital said in a Facebook post on Friday (January 31).

 

 

The hospital said that the Ministry of Public Health had announced five more people in Thailand had been confirmed as carrying the new coronavirus, and one of the five was the patient who had come to the hospital for treatment.

 

The five new cases bring the total thus far to 19, of whom seven patients have already recovered.

 

“The patient had been suffering from pneumonia and was treated until the fever went down and the overall condition improved gradually,” the hospital said in its Facebook post, adding, “The hospital has exercised the highest caution in treating the patient to prevent the spread of the virus to other patients and hospital staff. Anyone who came into contact with the patient is now being monitored in a quarantine environment.”

 

 

The hospital added that they had also closed most of the entrances and exits of the hospital, and deployed staff to monitor the ones that are still in use. These entrances and exits will be equipped with thermoscanners and will offer free alcohol gel and face masks to visitors.

 

The hospital also asked the relatives of the patients to avoid visiting at this moment to avoid crowding in the hospital and reduce the chance of the virus spreading.

 

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30381408

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-02-01

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info

All 100% under control its been added to your bill???? 

Seems so, looks like a surgical mask not even a n95 mask.... 

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

“The hospital has exercised the highest caution in treating the patient to prevent the spread of the virus to other patients and hospital staff. Anyone who came into contact with the patient is now being monitored in a quarantine environment.”

 

 

I'm confused by what to make of this....

 

Apparently, the hospital didn't know or test the person for the virus right away, and thus there must have been some period of time to allow the potential spread of the virus there.... Thus the need for quarantine anyone who came in contact with the patient.

 

But if the hospital HAD exercised the highest degree of caution in treating the patient in the first place, then quarantining everyone who came in contact with the patient wouldn't be necessary, because they all would have been wearing protective mask, gloves and other gear -- which, apparently they weren't!

 

The masks mostly shown in the photos are the cheap drugstore kind that are not really effective against viruses... They could have/should have been wearing N95 respirator masks, but probably have a hard time obtaining them up there.

 

Hazmat suits are totally inappropriate given that transmission is either by air or touch - overkill....

 

Either a N-95 or an air purifying respirator plus gloves and eye wear or face shield if very close contact like a nurse...

Maybe the PM should ensure the future of Chinese tourism in Thailand by going to the airports and personally meeting and greeting and shaking hands with all new Chinese arrivals in Thailand?

Nothing to worry about, surely, it's all 100% under control, lol.

"The hospital added that they had also closed most of the entrances and exits of the hospital, and deployed staff to monitor the ones that are still in use. "

 

And I wonder how porous that entrance is, and how many somehow get around it and nobody bothers with this.

 

Just like the employee entrances to the air side at Thai airports, stand and watch for 5 minutes, you'll see the security staff are not alert and many folks slip throught without any check and nobody cares. And same at security check points into shopping centres, if customer objects they are just waved through, ultimately in all these examples just a total waste of time and resources. 

Quote

offer free alcohol

I almost immediately headed to the hospital until I saw the second line:

Quote

gel and face masks to visitors.

 

2 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

The masks mostly shown in the photos are the cheap drugstore kind that are not really effective against viruses... They could have/should have been wearing N95 respirator masks, but probably have a hard time obtaining them up there.

 

These surgical masks became a fashion accessory some years ago and can  cover up a variety of deficits from acne to cleft palate scars. After about 30 minutes their filtering efficiency diminishes rapidly.

3 hours ago, ThomasThBKK said:

Seems so, looks like a surgical mask not even a n95 mask.... 

..humans will absorb more droplets of viruses through soft tissue, particularly the eyes...her nose isn't sealed correctly either.

If I comprehend the facts presented, this infected Chinese person went three days without seeing a doctor and potentially infected tens? scores? of innocent bystanders as he went about his travels in the city. Then he went untested and undiagnosed while receiving treatment for pneumonia in a hospital setting for 10 days!  It begs the question of how many nurses and doctors etc he or she infected during those 10 days and with whom did those persons possibly further infect...the possibilities are downright scary.  
 

On top of that, we have a prime minister who is looking unfavorably at a vitally necessary recommendation to deny a VOA for anybody incoming passenger from China. Naturally being the head of government, his uneducated, off the cuff expectation will doubtlessly carry the day. 

 

Did get all this right, and is it business as usual down at the junta HQ in Bangkok?

 

This kingdom may suffer terribly if huge errors like this one are steadily, routinely overlooked.  Please God and Buddha save us from these witless clowns. 

 

 

1 hour ago, Guderian said:

Maybe the PM should ensure the future of Chinese tourism in Thailand by going to the airports and personally meeting and greeting and shaking hands with all new Chinese arrivals in Thailand?

Nothing to worry about, surely, it's all 100% under control, lol.

And a huge vat of mango with sticky rice 

How fortunate we are on Thai Visa to have so many expert epidemiologists making their valuable contributions..

Love these masks.

 

why are you using the derogatory word "stupid" in your remarks. 

The nurses here are very sweet, friendly and helpful!

You should be ashamed of yourself. 

 

4 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

why are the stupid nurses wearing masks?

 

don't they read Thai Visa comments were you learn masks are useless?

 

In China you get different kind of advise & information:

‘Stay home’ Chinese city orders as coronavirus deaths reach daily record
Huanggang — home to 7.4 million people — in Hubei province restricts public movement to control infections
Province at the epicentre of disease outbreak announces 45 new deaths and 1,347 new confirmed cases
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3048518/coronavirus-case-load-and-death-toll-china-rise-epicentre-hubei-province

 

According to the National Health Commission in Beijing, 11,791 cases have been confirmed in China’s 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions as of Friday. New deaths have brought the nationwide toll to 259.

Authorities in China’s coronavirus epicentre of Hubei province reported 45 new deaths from the illness and 1,347 new confirmed cases on Saturday – both daily record highs.

Authorities in Huanggang – a city of about 7.4 million people – have become the first in Hubei province to impose strict restrictions against residents from going outside, declaring that every family can send one member out to buy necessities every two days.

One of the hospital’s employees was confirmed to have contracted the virus on January 23 but Jian did not elaborate on whether the patient may be a “super-spreader” – a patient who has contact with others at the most virulent stage of the disease.
Sars expert Zhong Nanshan said in a press conference on January 21 that a super-spreader had infected 14 medical staff in a hospital in Wuhan.
Australians advised not to travel to China
Australia has joined US and other countries in upgrading its travel advice to include all of mainland China. “Do not travel”, Prime Minister Scott Morrison advised on Saturday.

23 minutes ago, Fore Man said:

If I comprehend the facts presented, this infected Chinese person went three days without seeing a doctor and potentially infected tens? scores? of innocent bystanders as he went about his travels in the city. Then he went untested and undiagnosed while receiving treatment for pneumonia in a hospital setting for 10 days!  It begs the question of how many nurses and doctors etc he or she infected during those 10 days and with whom did those persons possibly further infect...the possibilities are downright scary.  
 

On top of that, we have a prime minister who is looking unfavorably at a vitally necessary recommendation to deny a VOA for anybody incoming passenger from China. Naturally being the head of government, his uneducated, off the cuff expectation will doubtlessly carry the day. 

 

Did get all this right, and is it business as usual down at the junta HQ in Bangkok?

 

This kingdom may suffer terribly if huge errors like this one are steadily, routinely overlooked.  Please God and Buddha save us from these witless clowns. 

 

 

I completely agree. Firstly, IMO, the risks of more people being infected by this Chinese person is high - in fact it's a certainty, and then the people who were infected would unknowingly pass it along to others. Expect an outbreak soon.

 

Secondly, I despair at the prime minister's reaction to a deadly virus, albeit it would appear, as at to date, that normal healthy people would recover. The unknown risk is, though, that it could mutate into a far deadlier version with a fast transition time.  If the PM and Tourist Minister continue to support Chinese travellers at the expense of Thailand's population health, they're not fit to be in post.   

just a question:  who pays for the quarantine ???? isn't that super expensive ?

As someone who had hospital fire/life programs under me, I cringe when I hear they have closed exits/entrances into the hospital...

 

you think they got permission of the Province fire Marshall to do that? ???? 

20 minutes ago, justin case said:

just a question:  who pays for the quarantine ???? isn't that super expensive ?

 Another question -  who's paying for the hospital treatment for all the confirmed and potential coronavirus patients from China who have been staying in various private and public Thai hospitals for treatment and testing?

 

Throughout this entire process, thus far, I haven't seen one peep about the financials for all of their treatment, and all those who will require it in the future.

 

1 minute ago, cardinalblue said:

As someone who had hospital fire/life programs under me, I cringe when I hear they have closed exits/entrances into the hospital...

 

you think they got permission of the Province fire Marshall to do that? ???? 

 

I presume they just mean, closed various of the multiple entry/exit points so they can better funnel inbound folks thru their screening stations.

 

I would tend to doubt they've chained the doors or such, so that in the event of some emergency, they wouldn't be able to use the closed exits in order to escape the building(s).

" The Hospital commented that they had closed most of the Entrances and Exits "

And all those little Virus bugs just marched straight out of there in lines 4  abreast through the ones that were not closed.

And now they have to quarantine staff because the patient was not, thus taking them away from their duties of care with other Patients.

Seriously !

 

6 hours ago, rooster59 said:

The five new cases bring the total thus far to 19, of whom seven patients have already recovered.

Note! This is sarcasm!

 

I do not understand why China not ask Thailand, "How do you do"? I mean, early this morning, it was in total 11374 cases of corona virus in total all over the world. Of those 259 have died and 252 have been recovered. Most of those infected are from China, lets say 11300 (that is a low number), and all that have died is reported from China. Then if we look at Thailand. 19 cases, 0 died, and 7 totally recovered after just a few days. That is about 1/3. So I do not understand why China not ask Thailand as that in a couple of days will reduce the people who are suffering from Corona in China to less than 4000 and there will soon be no problem.  

4 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

I'm confused by what to make of this....

 

Apparently, the hospital didn't know or test the person for the virus right away, and thus there must have been some period of time to allow the potential spread of the virus there.... Thus the need for quarantine anyone who came in contact with the patient.

Thais way of control is different to most!

But don't fret... Prayut & Anutin have your back, you can rest easy!

1 hour ago, justin case said:

just a question:  who pays for the quarantine ???? isn't that super expensive ?

The hospital bean counters can just send the bills down to “Loong” Prayut at Government House in Bangkok.  I’m sure he has plenty of funds at his ready disposal.  

So this  patient was in  the general ward for days plus initial  exam.  How many staff are under surveillance and does that mean at home?  Or continue  to work?  Seems like 2 patients like this can decimate a hospital staff.  There has to be 3 nurses  plus a doctor plus the 3 shifts now staffing a few doors left  open removed  from patient care. 

Surgical masks And don't they need glasses?  And do thai hospitals even have n95 mask supplies to last or at all?  From most reports  any masks are sold out much less n95.  Plus they dont have different sizes and do test fits on small asian faces.    I don't see how this is going to not blow up in CM.     If it doesn't blow up do we believe the numbers? 

From the very beginning I wondered how much the medical cost are going to negate the tourist numbers that they wanted to allow and encourage in.  I can't help but thinking someone is profiting from these tourist numbers via big hotel kickbacks or somehow and expecting the hospital  bill of sick to be paid back out of a different pocket, like tax revenue.  

10 hours ago, spiekerjozef said:

Love these masks.

 

Made from his girlfriend's underwear...

15 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

I'm confused by what to make of this....

 

Apparently, the hospital didn't know or test the person for the virus right away, and thus there must have been some period of time to allow the potential spread of the virus there.... Thus the need for quarantine anyone who came in contact with the patient.

 

But if the hospital HAD exercised the highest degree of caution in treating the patient in the first place, then quarantining everyone who came in contact with the patient wouldn't be necessary, because they all would have been wearing protective mask, gloves and other gear -- which, apparently they weren't!

 

Lot of false assumptions here. There is no point of contact test. You take sample. Send it off and wait for result. You isolate the pt and ascertain all the person’s recent contacts etc.

it is time to use “ the little grey cell” and not get reflexively angry at anything Thai.

15 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

I'm confused by what to make of this....

 

Apparently, the hospital didn't know or test the person for the virus right away, and thus there must have been some period of time to allow the potential spread of the virus there.... Thus the need for quarantine anyone who came in contact with the patient.

 

But if the hospital HAD exercised the highest degree of caution in treating the patient in the first place, then quarantining everyone who came in contact with the patient wouldn't be necessary, because they all would have been wearing protective mask, gloves and other gear -- which, apparently they weren't!

 

They are not treating the infected or suspected infected. Tthey are behaving properly.