PM calls for probe after reports of infected Chinese in border hospitals

By The Nation

 

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha

 

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha called on provincial governors to investigate after news reports said that some Thais have taken Chinese infected with the Covid-19 coronavirus to border hospitals.

 

“We confirm that there is strict inspection at entry and exit points along the border on land, water, and also at airports. If we find that Chinese people have entered illegally, we will deport them,” he vowed.

 

“Today [February 24], the Army has sent troops to screen these people, while we received a report from the Public Health Ministry that no infected patients have been found in the hospitals.”

 

Talking about the rising coronavirus cases in South Korea, Prayut said Thailand has third-phase measures to tackle the outbreak if it got any worse. “The government held a conference last week to deal this situation and how to proceed with the measures, some of which will become stricter,” he said. 

 

The National Communicable Disease Committee met this afternoon and was set to declare Covid-19 a dangerous contagious disease to facilitate public health officers to work more effectively.

 

“We don’t want anyone to panic because the country has not reached the third phase of the epidemic, but it should have legal support to facilitate officers to control the situation,” he said. 

 

Prayut also confirmed that Thailand is not concealing any patient information, adding that the number of infected people is still the same. 

 

“There are more than 1,000 cases under investigation, but we don’t want people to panic because it will affect the country in many aspects. The government is deeply concerned about people’s health, but we must have measures in place to control any epidemic if necessary.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30382750

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-02-25

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Quote

There are more than 1,000 cases under investigation, 

So how long time it takes to confirm if someone has this virus or not ?

1 hour ago, thaitero said:

So how long time it takes to confirm if someone has this virus or not ?

As long as it suits them

2 hours ago, webfact said:

If we find that Chinese people have entered illegally, we will deport them,” he vowed.

china is not gonna be happy

2 hours ago, webfact said:

The government is deeply concerned about people’s health, but we must have measures in place to control any epidemic if necessary.

They have repeatedly demonstrated that they are more concerned with economics than they are about people's health,  case and point the smoke from burning and other sources that could easily IMO be mitigated but is not because of economic concerns. 

  So zero credibility on that front. I am staying in the US until this thing blows over. (we usually

come to our thai home this time of the year)

  I hope this whole thing blows over and that all of you stay safe, Hope to see you all soon.

6 minutes ago, sirineou said:

They have repeatedly demonstrated that they are more concerned with economics than they are about people's health,  case and point the smoke from burning and other sources that could easily IMO be mitigated but is not because of economic concerns. 

  So zero credibility on that front. I am staying in the US until this thing blows over. (we usually

come to our thai home this time of the year)

  I hope this whole thing blows over and that all of you stay safe, Hope to see you all soon.

Me too, well not the US but I have moved away from LOS for the time being. It's just not worth the risk of bring blocked from flying out in the near future, and the possible chaos to come

2 hours ago, webfact said:

“We confirm that there is strict inspection at entry and exit points along the border on land, water, and also at airports. If we find that Chinese people have entered illegally, we will deport them,” he vowed.

well you can't get much stricter than that. Everything he said was correct and in line with what should be happening regarding the health and safety of Thai citizens.

This hurt our "feelings".

 

But i like the idea to "send" soldiers to "check".

 

A phone call would be way too complicated to achieve ("allo khrap ? do you have any damned sick chinese in your hospital yes or no ?")

 

And by the way, another foreign government is hurting our "feelings" too.

 

Kuwait bans all flights to and from South Korea, Thailand, and Italy due to coronavirus - KUNA

 

This is so mean. And why Thailand... and not Japan ? Or USA ?

 

Does it mean that Kuwat do not trust... our glorious country ? Do they know that hot weather and som tam smells kill the virus ?

 

Anyway. I'm sure our generals will quickly answer to this insult, because Kuwait has... confirmed 3 cases. So... just ban tourists from Kuwait !

????

 

70 000 Kuwaitis visited Thailand in 2018. Bannnnnnnnnnn them !

Edited February 24, 20206 yr by christophe75

16 minutes ago, christophe75 said:

70 000 Kuwaitis visited Thailand in 2018. Bannnnnnnnnnn them !

Too much money involved you should know by now

1 hour ago, steven100 said:

well you can't get much stricter than that. Everything he said was correct and in line with what should be happening regarding the health and safety of Thai citizens.

They only check for a high temperature .A carrier can have no symptoms showing .

With Kuwait Airlines ceasing flights to Thailand, along with Italy and Sth Korea, which are both know for serious outbreaks, what really is happening here in Thailand?

Do the Kuwaitis know more than we do?

It would be so absolutely irresponsible of this country to attempt to hide anything as serious is this.

4 hours ago, webfact said:

If we find that Chinese people have entered illegally, we will deport them,” he vowed.

Imagine trying to deport infected Covid patients. 

A "probe" seems drastic. 

 

Shouldn't a committee be set up first?

 

 

For what its worth regarding possible infections personally with social media here in thailand being so prevalent if they were down playing the stats i feel the info would be out there through leaks,FB,Snapchat and personal accounts so ill be giving them the benefit of doubt and hope the medical profession is as good as they say ...  

100%.

1 hour ago, ChrisY1 said:

With Kuwait Airlines ceasing flights to Thailand, along with Italy and Sth Korea, which are both know for serious outbreaks, what really is happening here in Thailand?

Do the Kuwaitis know more than we do?

It would be so absolutely irresponsible of this country to attempt to hide anything as serious is this.

Just curious where did you read Kuwait Air is ceasing flights to Thailand?OK,ok I just saw it in Bangkok POST

Edited February 25, 20206 yr by mrmicbkktxl

11 minutes ago, Sharp said:

For what its worth regarding possible infections personally with social media here in thailand being so prevalent if they were down playing the stats i feel the info would be out there through leaks,FB,Snapchat and personal accounts so ill be giving them the benefit of doubt and hope the medical profession is as good as they say ...  

 

The numbers are being "massaged" but perhaps not to a significant extent.

 

According to the most recent report (translated) there are 248 patients "under treatment"; which means it may or may not be COVID-19.

 

https://ddc.moph.go.th/viralpneumonia/eng/file/situation/situation-no50-220263.pdf

 

That the "confirmed cases" has not increased from 35 in what, a week or two, seems "strange"? Yes, I know it's been hot, humid and windy. Surely the 248 patients could be confirmed/or not, quite quickly?

 

This "border hospital" "rumor" isn't the only one swirling on Thai social media.

 

The "government" needs to speak with one voice (one person; preferrably a medical professional), at least twice a day with comprehensive updates, and strive to be clear, concise, accurate and transparent. 

Mass hysteria induced by mass media. It is just the flu, several new strains every year.

Without being a Prepper or Alarmist it might be wise to stock up on some foodstuffs (booze and cigs if that is your thing). If things go pearshaped you do not want to be out there in the crowd trying to empty the stores.

If nothing happens, then you still have the supplies to use normally.

 

5 hours ago, webfact said:

“There are more than 1,000 cases under investigation, but we don’t want people to panic because it will affect the country in many aspects.

So were sticking to the number of 35 of which many have gone home to alleviate any panic!

This could unravel real quick

16 minutes ago, IAMHERE said:

Mass hysteria induced by mass media. It is just the flu, several new strains every year.

I'm sure people said that in 1918 when it finished off at least 50 million and mutated to kill in 12 hours.

22 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

So were sticking to the number of 35 of which many have gone home to alleviate any panic!

lottery 35   ?

Dear God if this reaches pattaya..1 night in a bar. Or a night in a disco and we are all <deleted>

33 minutes ago, Orton Rd said:

I'm sure people said that in 1918 when it finished off at least 50 million and mutated to kill in 12 hours.

There are too many of us.

Those Chinese had, errrr , just regular flu and were sent home for a month to

safely recover.  Well Thailand cannot have more Corona virus as this is bad for

the economy.

Geezer

mtls2005, your last comment was too, funny. The government has to look those

words up on google as they do not likely know the meaning, or especially apply

something like transparency in most situations.

Geezer

 

4 hours ago, sirineou said:

They have repeatedly demonstrated that they are more concerned with economics than they are about people's health,  case and point the smoke from burning and other sources that could easily IMO be mitigated but is not because of economic concerns. 

  So zero credibility on that front. I am staying in the US until this thing blows over. (we usually

come to our thai home this time of the year)

  I hope this whole thing blows over and that all of you stay safe, Hope to see you all soon.

So you will stay in a country that has had 80,000 flue deaths this pass year.

Getting virused out personally - what happens happens. 

6 hours ago, thaitero said:

So how long time it takes to confirm if someone has this virus or not ?

 

If they don't test for CV, and/or instead palm off the diagnosis on some other condition or simply send the patient home, they're not gonna know and the number won't get reported as CV!