Thailand's unsung Covid-19 success story

Kingdom has contained its outbreak better than most due to uniquely Thai factors but risks of a second wave are rising

By SHAWN W. CRISPIN

 

Traditional Thai dancers wearing protective face shields perform at the Erawan Shrine, which was reopened after the Thai government relaxed measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus in Bangkok, May 4, 2020. Photo: AFP/Mladen Antonov

 

BANGKOK – When a Chinese tourist was diagnosed with the Covid-19 coronavirus on January 13, the first known infection outside of China before the disease made its fatal global sweep, Thailand would have seemed a likely locale for mass contagion and mortality.

 

Hundreds of thousands of Chinese tourists descended on the kingdom over the Lunar New Year holiday, a time when the deadly virus and its contagiousness were barely understood. Prioritizing tourism over health, Thailand’s government left its borders open to China and the wider world.

 

But when a respected physician at the royally affiliated Siriraj Hospital projected on March 26 that Thailand would have 350,000 cases and 7,000 deaths by mid-April without social distancing, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha invoked emergency rule, centralized crisis management and phased in hard lockdown measures, many of which remain in place.

 

Full story: https://asiatimes.com/2020/05/thailands-unsung-covid-19-success-story/

 

-- © Copyright ASIA TIMES 2020-05-27

 

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Claptrap, and this  govt  will use this  rubbish mercilessly to promote themsleves, social distancing is the last thing any Thais do, I shall await future  research as to why some countries have had  little impact with cv19 inc  surrounding countries. Whether  climate affects  the results or  not, outdoor  lifestyle etc.

16 minutes ago, webfact said:

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha invoked emergency rule, centralized crisis management and phased in hard lockdown measures, many of which remain in place.

it is this kind of precise decision making that has shown the true strength and leadership skills of the current government. where would thailand be without this great decision making ? 

i for one am truly grateful.

There's a lot more to this story than meets the eye, especially when it comes to the start date.

 

Sure it was noticed in January.

 

I will come back to this thread at a later stage when things are much clearer.

Prayut’s strongman move, reminiscent of his previous coup-installed military government, 

 

 

No real need for the word "reminiscent", it is practically the same regime that overthrew an elected government, then rigged an election to stay at the helm.

57 minutes ago, bodga said:

Claptrap, and this  govt  will use this  rubbish mercilessly to promote themsleves, social distancing is the last thing any Thais do, I shall await future  research as to why some countries have had  little impact with cv19 inc  surrounding countries. Whether  climate affects  the results or  not, outdoor  lifestyle etc.

It's the fish sauce. 

Don't test many, don't get many positives. Harsh lockdown has probably caused more deaths than covid-19.

Denial.

It's a bit like that story of how someone died....Oh, he stopped breathing died from respiratory failure.

And that had nothing to do with the bullet to his head.

Sunshine (Vit D) and habitual wearing of face masks, as is the pollution norm here in Thailand are more likely benefactors of low infection  - and death rates. The PM has been fortunate that a surprisingly low number of cases can be readily traced and quarantined imposed. 

 

Social distancing is a rubbish claim - never happens at markets, malls, temples, or any other places where people congregate. As is usual, the PM has been put on a pedestal by the subservient media. 

1 hour ago, bodga said:

Claptrap, and this  govt  will use this  rubbish mercilessly to promote themsleves, social distancing is the last thing any Thais do, I shall await future  research as to why some countries have had  little impact with cv19 inc  surrounding countries. Whether  climate affects  the results or  not, outdoor  lifestyle etc.

It was obviously their strategy from the beginning. They had no intention of testing aggressively. Rather, test little, report low numbers, and get the tourists back at any cost because more than a 30% of the Thai economy is foreign tourism. 

Sorry, can't get excited with the moves of an autocrat that is desperate for pats on the back at home and abroad.   He doesn't even like foreigners, but he is desperate for their favorable opinion of him.   This story rings hollow compared to how Taiwan, Cambodia and Vietnam handled the pandemic.   Cambodia, if you remember, allowed a cruise ship dock that was turned away by the US and Thailand.  cha cha is no hero.  It is not in him.   Unsung sums it up nicely as there is little to sing about. 

53 minutes ago, OneeyedJohn said:

Denial.

It's a bit like that story of how someone died....Oh, he stopped breathing died from respiratory failure.

And that had nothing to do with the bullet to his head.

How stupid do you think people are? There are only eg 6 cases in Phitsanulok. Do you think for one minute if someone died of Covid 19 they could hide it and get away with it? Thais gossip the  same as everyone but out of 870,000 people who live there not one rumour suggesting there are people dying of Covid 10 is being circulated. Hospitals have thousands of staff u simply cant hide the truth from all..........you're the one that is in denial about how well Thailand for whatever reason has handled this 

Success story ??  Any country can beat a common seasonal flu.  Ain't rocket science.  STUPID-19   ??

2 hours ago, mr mr said:

it is this kind of precise decision making that has shown the true strength and leadership skills of the current government. where would thailand be without this great decision making ? 

i for one am truly grateful.

Diamond geezers and make no error

23 minutes ago, Tanlic said:

How stupid do you think people are? There are only eg 6 cases in Phitsanulok. Do you think for one minute if someone died of Covid 19 they could hide it and get away with it? Thais gossip the  same as everyone but out of 870,000 people who live there not one rumour suggesting there are people dying of Covid 10 is being circulated. Hospitals have thousands of staff u simply cant hide the truth from all..........you're the one that is in denial about how well Thailand for whatever reason has handled this 

They're doing a pretty good job at hiding and manipulating the truth in the US by some reports. 

A story that is designed to comfort the non existent tourists.

 

Amazing Trusted Thailand

The USA has had almost ZERO NATIONAL coordination.  Trump has left it up to the states, and look what has happened because of it.  100,000 dead and probably many more.   I give the government in Thailand at least SOME credit.   They had a national response.   

2 hours ago, mr mr said:

it is this kind of precise decision making that has shown the true strength and leadership skills of the current government

Is that why Thailand closed its borders a full week or more later than countries such as Vietnam, AU, NZ etc.

Quarantine controls similar story.

Plane load of returning Thai allowed to avoid quarantine because they kicked up a stink. Open up sale of booze with zero planning. In similar fashion Phuket open bridge when 40,000 had registered to exit.

Guess what bridge needed to be closed first day. A health minister that has made ridiculous comments ongoing. 

I could go on. The success story in Thailand is not due to good management.

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand's unsung Covid-19 success story

I am singing. 

 

January Febuary had many TVF member talk about how much covid thailand will have because thai stupid and dirty. Welcome Chinese tourist etc etc. Nasty.

 

Then March the farang countrys start having a lot. = the same members then say thailand lie, hide the death etc. 

mask not work.

 

Then April the farang countrys Show THEY hide the deaths. Thousands, in old care homes, not test the dead people. Maybe 100,000 MORE. 

 

 Then May, thailand still control well, the members say Thai lucky etc, many reason. (But not because we work together, corporate, thai team work, the real reason)

Nowfarang country want to wear mask. 

 

I join tvf forum one year ago today. My one year anniversary. I surprised by “Thai bashing” so much.

The last 4 months proof how stupid you guys are.

farang country, 200,000 dead. Thailand less than 100. But some you guys STILL complain about Thailand EVERYDAY. 

Pffffft. Look the result. Nobody care what you think.

 

*thailand the first country test covid outside China. You leaders shaking hands everyone, say covid will disappear in April, injection disinfectant, deny, refuse to wear mask, refuse social distance etc 

Thailand more test than Finland, Norway, Sweden etc. and less death.

test everyday.

 

we test people who fever, who have friend/contact covid friend/family.

Very successful. 

 

thai people work together. Volunteer spray the covid, work at the road block, poo yai baan help the people together, give food the people etc.

99% follow the rule.

 

Look like the farang country only the police care the rule. Nobody help together. Just complain the rule. 

 

If the farang country more responsibilty= covid will be less= economy be better. I think thailand can be open quickly. But still spreading 100,000+ everyday. Not control same thailand. 

 

For all the TVF wear the mask, use thai victory app, follow the rules, thank-you help thailand be successful country fight covid.

 

Yinn

POTY

 

 

 

 

 

 

Uniquely Thai???? Who wrote this piece of absolute nonsense! 

 

 Thailand was just 'lucky'. Though it did act early. But to say that it did it better than most in the region ... is horse+*#♧!

10 minutes ago, iamariva1957 said:

Thailand was just 'lucky'. Though it did act early.

Thailand stopped entry to non nationals over a week more than many countries.

One example Vietnam vs Thailand.

How many Chinese and others entered in that period. How do you work out that they acted early.

So few cases coz the beaches are closed. 

1 hour ago, Fex Bluse said:

t was obviously their strategy from the beginning. They had no intention of testing aggressively. Rather, test little, report low numbers, and get the tourists back at any cost because more than a 30% of the Thai economy is foreign tourism. 

How about Japan? Japan has less number of tests per millions than Thailand. There various testing methodoligies for an epidemic. Test, test, test is only good when you test 20 people randomly and find 1 infection but when  you tests 100 people from a targeted group to catch one infection more testing does not help in containing the virus.

What is amazing to me  that people who can't even find a bride in their home country, can't earn a decent living in their retirmenet in their home country come to Thailand and become expert in everything. This virus has exposed the hypocrisiy, arrogancies, and know-it-all attututdes of people whose own country men have turned their native soils in to cell pool of desease and infections that show no sign of slowing down. 

Lockdowns are easy, especially when you're living in an authoritarian state, just close everything.

 

It's the opening up where policies need to be carefully thought out and executed.

 

Not ramping up mass testing is already a big fail due to ineffective test&trace network, kneejerk forced openings because of the economy will be another.

3 hours ago, bodga said:

Claptrap, and this  govt  will use this  rubbish mercilessly to promote themsleves, social distancing is the last thing any Thais do, I shall await future  research as to why some countries have had  little impact with cv19 inc  surrounding countries. Whether  climate affects  the results or  not, outdoor  lifestyle etc.

In the meantime, without waiting for the 'future research, you will use the vast knowledge you have gained from your doctorate on infectious diseases and your published Lancet papers on respiratory ailments to slag off, what many countries would have been happy to achieve.  I, for one, would not have believed at the beginning of this that Thailand could ever achieve the low levels that they have. But, the fact is, without any conflicting evidence they have done a bloody good job. Credit where credit is due. 

1 hour ago, Tanlic said:

Do you think for one minute if someone died of Covid 19 they could hide it and get away with it? Thais gossip the  same as everyone but out of 870,000 people who live there not one rumour suggesting there are people dying of Covid 10 is being circulated. Hospitals have thousands of staff u simply cant hide the truth from all..........you're the one that is in denial about how well Thailand for whatever reason has handled this 

 

Thailand has done no meaningful testing, so if you do not test for SARS Cov2 how could you know if someone died of Covid19? You can not.

 

So obviously the Thai relatives of someone who died would not know if he died of Covdi19. Because their relative was never tested for SARS Cov2. If they don't know themselves, how can they go on social media to talk about Covid19? They can't. 

 

Covid 19 looks like a cold, pneumonia, it can easily be misrepresented as another disease. Very easily. Not intentionally, just out of ignorance. Because no testing was done.

 

The same with hospital staff. How would hospital staff know someone died of Covid19 if no testing was done? They wouldn't know.

 

A study by the WHO showed that routinely 70% of doctor's completed death certificates in Thailand were faulty and flawed in some way, usually cause of death.

 

Basically Thailand has done nothing sensible, and got away with it because only 0.8% of people actually have the virus, as the Iceland study showed.

 

 

so now they congratulate themselves, that most people who are not "white" and don't avoid the sun at all cost, got enough VITAMIN D levels in their blood that is a major key in the immune system to fight NATURALLY any virus ???

20 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Thailand stopped entry to non nationals over a week more than many countries.

One example Vietnam vs Thailand.

How many Chinese and others entered in that period. How do you work out that they acted early.

Earlier than my stupid country!

28 minutes ago, iamariva1957 said:

Uniquely Thai???? Who wrote this piece of absolute nonsense! 

 

 Thailand was just 'lucky'. Though it did act early. But to say that it did it better than most in the region ... is horse+*#♧!

I think that there are some things that are uniquely(?) Thai that have helped. The question mark is because they are not unique to Thailand but they are to SE Asia.

No shoes in the house.

Wai instead of shaking hands.

No hugs.

No kisses.

Hot and sunny climate (good for natural vitamin D)

As much as I hate to say it but the government did well in shutting Thailand down.

The worrying bit - we are about to open up again. There is still a lot of the virus out there in the world.

The tricky bits are open borders and end of free visas.

1 hour ago, M71 said:

Success story ??  Any country can beat a common seasonal flu.  Ain't rocket science.  STUPID-19   ??

Pity Trump and his minions in the USA can't!