Thai PM blames virus surge on illegal migration, hints at new curbs

By Jiraporn Kuhakan and Orathai Sriring

 

Migrant workers queue to talk with the public health authorities for a COVID-19 investigation at a fresh market, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Bangkok, Thailand, December 22, 2020. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa

 

SAMUT SAKHON, Thailand (Reuters) - Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha on Tuesday blamed a spike in coronavirus cases on illegal migration, after the country's biggest outbreak yet saw more than 1,000 infections, mostly among workers from Myanmar at a seafood market near the capital.

 

Prayuth said he might this week announce new health regulations ahead of new year celebrations and attributed the latest outbreak in Samut Sakhon province to networks smuggling people into Thailand, which has so far had among the world's lowest coronavirus caseloads.

 

"This latest flare-up of infections in Samut Sakhon is primarily due to such illegal immigrants and they have brought much grief to the country," he said in a statement, parts of which he read in a televised address.

 

Prayuth said he would meet his COVID-19 task force this week and discuss "additional regulations that may be appropriate for the evolving situation," without elaborating.

 

Health officials reported 427 new coronavirus infections on Tuesday and urged about 1,000 people from a quarter of the country's provinces who had visited the seafood centre this month to report to authorities.

 

"But don't panic. Anybody who went should be tested," taskforce spokesman Taweesin Wisanuyothin said.

 

The new cases include 16 people in eight different provinces, with five of the infections in Bangkok.

 

CONTAINMENT SUCCESS

 

Some 397 cases were migrants mostly from Myanmar, a major source of labour in the seafood industry, adding to an outbreak that emerged at the weekend when hundreds of tests among asymptomatic workers came back positive.

 

More than 1,100 cases have been traced back to the now shuttered centre, a commercial area where scores of vendors typically deal in shrimps and other seafood for distribution nationwide.

 

Thailand had until the weekend recorded about 4,300 cases and just 60 deaths, a containment success attributed largely to its swift contact tracing and strict entry requirements and quarantine.

 

Authorities have suspected some workers may have entered the country illegally as infections soared in neighbouring Myanmar, where about 117,000 cases have been recorded.

 

At least a dozen infected Thai nationals are also known to have returned from Myanmar in the last month without passing through immigration or undergoing quarantine.

 

In Samut Sakhon, an estimated 4,000 people were in isolation around the seafood market, with volunteers distributing food to those confined to their rooms.

 

Varunthorn Mathiprechakul, 22, who owns a shrimp stall, said he wanted to check on his 26 isolated employees from Myanmar.

 

"I'm not sure whether the government provides enough food for them," Varunthorn told Reuters.

 

"I never thought that this would happen because Thailand has had no new cases for months," he said.

 

"I'm still in shock, I don't know what to do."

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-12-22

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

8 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

and attributed the latest outbreak in Samut Sakhon province to networks smuggling people into Thailand,

 

As the Prime Minister, it is down to you and your cronies to prevent this, which you obviously have not done, therefore the responsibility is with yourself.

19 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha on Tuesday blamed a spike in coronavirus cases on illegal migration

so thai; never mind that illegal immigration is the core problem and you and your government and previous thai governments know all about it , do and have done nothing about it , and lie to us

Thailand had orders of magnitude more foreign visitors in the early stages of the pandemic.  I wonder if it was Thais crossing illegally into Myanmar that originally seeded the infections there and now the ????  ???? ????  are coming home to roost.

24 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha on Tuesday blamed a spike in coronavirus cases on illegal migration, after the country's biggest outbreak yet saw more than 1,000 infections, mostly among workers fro

Our dear friends at Immigration are in big trouble now. 

Why can't these idiots watch what they say? "It's their fault" to the less intelligent means "Feel free to kick their heads in". We need to work together, not apportion blame to one another.

Illegal immigration will eventually kill humanity in one form or another...

Earlier in the day:

'Prawit rejects notion of graft at borders, says nobody to blame for new outbreak'

 

A few hours later:

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

Thai PM blames virus surge on illegal migration

   The left hand isn't even aware of the existence of the right hand.

Hold the employers of illegal immigrants as well as the corrupt officials that facility their entry and employment responsible.

 

Not holding my breath.

 

1 hour ago, bluesofa said:

Earlier in the day:

'Prawit rejects notion of graft at borders, says nobody to blame for new outbreak'

 

A few hours later:

   The left hand isn't even aware of the existence of the right hand.

To many watches covering the wrist and the blinding light reflecting from the diamond encrusted ones are making it hard to see straight 

2 hours ago, Oliver Holzerfilled said:

Thailand had orders of magnitude more foreign visitors in the early stages of the pandemic.  I wonder if it was Thais crossing illegally into Myanmar that originally seeded the infections there and now the ????  ????????  are coming home to roost.

Got any proof for this nonsense or just doing your favorite Thai bashing?

5 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Thai PM blames virus surge on illegal migration, hints at new curbs

Who controls the borders, clever boy?

"Without elaborating" are a couple of words that sum up Prayut's seized tenure now look forward to seeing how one cluster deals with another ???? 

I thought it was Thais crossing the border illegally that had caused this as reported here last week coming from some knock house hotel 

5 hours ago, bluesofa said:

Prawit rejects notion of graft at borders

who elected him ??????

 

nothing more to say

55 minutes ago, sammieuk1 said:

"Without elaborating" are a couple of words that sum up Prayut's seized tenure now look forward to seeing how one cluster deals with another ???? 

one word missing after "cluster" lol

Prayut hints at more restrictions after Covid surge

By The Nation

 

 

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Tuesday urged all Thais to join forces to overcome the latest Covid-19 outbreak, but hinted that further disease controls would be imposed.

 

Addressing the nation in a televised appearance, the premier said the fresh outbreak in Samut Sakhon had been tackled with stringent measures. The outbreak has so far spawned more than 1,000 cases.

 

Prayut added that the virus crisis was now growing around the world. This would impact the global economic recovery and, in turn, affect Thailand’s economic revival, he said.

 

The global situation also meant Thailand would have to maintain entry restrictions for foreign travellers, to curb transmission of the disease. Authorities would keep a close watch on airports and other access points including trains, buses, boats and natural border crossings, said the PM.

 

He added that additional stringent measures might be needed to handle the situation. New Year events may also face extra controls or even cancellation.

 

He said gangs who trafficked migrant workers must be eradicated, regardless of whether state officials were involved. 

 

The PM said Thailand would be the least affected country in the world if all Thais joined forces to prevent transmission of Covid. He also vowed to do his best to deliver vaccines for all Thais.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30400043

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-12-23

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

They are not doing there best to get a vaccine for Thai people. They would have had one already.  You failed us.

Never Thailands fault! 

 

xenophobic much? 

 

Except for the country that started all of this! 

And SARs

And bird flu ????

2 hours ago, webfact said:

He said gangs who trafficked migrant workers must be eradicated, regardless of whether state officials were involved. 

implying that they Are involved

9 hours ago, baboon said:

Why can't these idiots watch what they say? "It's their fault" to the less intelligent means "Feel free to kick their heads in". We need to work together, not apportion blame to one another.

 

Because it's feeds into the popular agenda...

16 minutes ago, pacman32 said:

Never Thailands fault! 

 

xenophobic much? 

 

Except for the country that started all of this! 

And SARs

And bird flu ????

And "Spanish Flu", most likely of you research it. 

 

None of these Chinese derivative countries in Southeast Asia are game to blame the Chinese, but they will happily blame everyone else. Shows their true red colors. 

3 hours ago, smedly said:

I thought it was Thais crossing the border illegally that had caused this as reported here last week coming from some knock house hotel 

Yeah, but that's only because the bad Burmese lured honest and pure Thais go Myanmar to work their illegally. The Thais did not know they were doing anything wrong. It's the bad Burmese people who we should blame. 

  9 hours ago, Oliver Holzerfilled said:

Thailand had orders of magnitude more foreign visitors in the early stages of the pandemic.  I wonder if it was Thais crossing illegally into Myanmar that originally seeded the infections there and now the     are coming home to roost.

Got any proof for this nonsense or just doing your favorite Thai bashing?

Edited 7 hours ago by FritsSikkink

 

 

The millions of foreign tourists, including Chinese, who were flooding into the country until mid February?

Here we go again, the pot calling the kettle black. If one were to write a book on LOS, surely a competent author would indeed be one to address such behavior that is all to common among people here. From those in power, shop sellers, restaurant owners, and even within the workplace. 

10 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

adding to an outbreak that emerged at the weekend when hundreds of tests among asymptomatic workers came back positive.

 

Is it possible that Thailand's numbers are so low due to lack of testing? Seems the highest percentage of covid cases are now asymptomatic or only producing very mild flu like symptom so perhaps these people are not going to hospital or paying for expensive covid testing?????

2 hours ago, Mango Bob said:

They are not doing there best to get a vaccine for Thai people. They would have had one already.  You failed us.

Most countries don't have a jab yet.  Thailand is just one of many.  They've paid for a large lot already and are working on more.  Just like every other country in the world.  Well, perhaps except Somalia.

19 minutes ago, Venom said:

 

Is it possible that Thailand's numbers are so low due to lack of testing? Seems the highest percentage of covid cases are now asymptomatic or only producing very mild flu like symptom so perhaps these people are not going to hospital or paying for expensive covid testing?????

CV19 testing is free for locals.  They produce about 150,000 tests kits every month here.  So far, they've done a great job with the virus.  I'm glad I'm here and not back home!

Got to say, pretty pathetic for a Prime Minister to start blaming foreigners who supposedly crossed illegally, where he should be blaming Thai border police for failing to do their job, for greedy Thai business owners, who employ foreigners illegally and then throw them out on the street as they not human but rubbish.

 

How about calling for unity and showing some Buddhist values, be good hosts and offer help instead of creating and spreading hate.

7 minutes ago, BestB said:

Got to say, pretty pathetic for a Prime Minister to start blaming foreigners who supposedly crossed illegally, where he should be blaming Thai border police for failing to do their job, for greedy Thai business owners, who employ foreigners illegally and then throw them out on the street as they not human but rubbish.

 

How about calling for unity and showing some Buddhist values, be good hosts and offer help instead of creating and spreading hate.

Ah. You want a benevolent dictator then?