Thailand 4th among 98 countries studied for best response in handling pandemic

By The Nation

 

 

Australian analysis centre, Lowy Institute, has come up with a ranking for countries in terms of managing the Covid-19 pandemic in 36 weeks after the 100th case was confirmed.

 

It evaluated 98 countries based on the availability of data across six indicators that were used to construct this index.

 

The country topping the list as the best in controlling the outbreak is New Zealand (94.4 points), followed by Vietnam (90.8), Taiwan (86.4), Thailand (84.2) and Cyprus (83.3). Meanwhile, Brazil (4.3), followed by Mexico (6.5), Colombia (7.7), Iran (15.9) and the United States (17.3) are said to have the worst management among 98 countries.

 

China, where the first Covid-19 case was found in Wuhan, was excluded from the index due to the unavailability of data.

 

The scores were calculated from six indicators, namely confirmed cases, confirmed deaths, confirmed cases per million people, confirmed deaths per million people, confirmed cases as a proportion of tests, and tests per 1,000 people.

 

Lowy Institute said that despite having more resources, high-income countries’ average scores in handling the outbreak is not much higher than developing countries.

 

Source: https://interactives.lowyinstitute.org/features/covid-performance/

 

Better healthcare systems and financial ability to sustain lockdowns were beneficial to managing the pandemic, research shows. These assets were particularly important at the height of the pandemic, when the ability of governments to support or supplement citizens’ incomes during extensive lockdowns became crucial.

 

Yet, these factors are not a guarantee of success against Covid-19, as demonstrated by the poor performance of several advanced economies, including the US and UK. Countervailing forces were also at play — advanced economies tend to have older populations, with a greater proportion of the population vulnerable to Covid-19, and many elderly citizens living in old-age care facilities, which were particularly prone to virus outbreaks.

 

The lead established by high-income countries narrowed significantly towards the end of 2020 prior to the unrolling of mass Covid-19 vaccination programmes.

 

Developing countries that had dealt with the crisis well in early stages, have now hit a wall due to their financial and resource limits. However, compared to advanced countries, the rate of fatality has been quite low even in countries like India, where the pandemic accelerated dramatically.

 

 

Despite the data being less reliable, there are possibly other variables affecting these outcomes. One factor may be that many developing countries have younger populations, who may be less prone to the worst effects of the virus.

 

The Covid-19 disease continues to spread worldwide with more than 100 million confirmed cases across 190 countries and 2 million deaths since January last year, after China announced the first case of “viral pneumonia” in Wuhan.

 

Read more at at https://interactives.lowyinstitute.org/.../covid.../

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30401933

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2021-01-28

 

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

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

 

A strange mix:

 

4th on pandemic handling (well done, by the way).

 

Yet 104th on Corruption Perceptions Index.

what differed thailand from the other during the firs wave:

prohibition for over 60 days (minimum 30 days)

night curfew 22pm-5am, later lessened to 4h

 

but many other factors, not depending on the government

- high social discipline, even small kids 2-3 years old wearing masks

- asian/budhist waing as a greeting, instead of hand shaking or even hugging/kissing in muslim countries

- high temperature and humidity stopped first wave, the second wave came with cool and dry winter months. Bangkok is the hottest city in the world, taking humidity into consideration

 

Other probable:

- genetic immunity. There are 2 theories. Similar coronavirus some 10k years ago. Other viruses (dengue, chikungunya  and the other tropical), which protected from catching covid.

- high quality fresh food giving nutrients and vitamins, including herbs and spices, all helping immunity.

 

There is possible, that many were asymptomatic even before the first wave, even before mass tests were developed. With low testing (no need, as there are no sick people in the hospitals) statistics are low.

 

Covid free hub might not survive the second and next waves, as the government made many blunders with vax. 

So the fight was won, but the war is still going on and outcome unknown  

20 minutes ago, internationalism said:

what differed thailand from the other during the firs wave:

prohibition for over 60 days (minimum 30 days)

night curfew 22pm-5am, later lessened to 4h

 

but many other factors, not depending on the government

- high social discipline, even small kids 2-3 years old wearing masks

- asian/budhist waing as a greeting, instead of hand shaking or even hugging/kissing in muslim countries

- high temperature and humidity stopped first wave, the second wave came with cool and dry winter months. Bangkok is the hottest city in the world, taking humidity into consideration

 

Other probable:

- genetic immunity. There are 2 theories. Similar coronavirus some 10k years ago. Other viruses (dengue, chikungunya  and the other tropical), which protected from catching covid.

- high quality fresh food giving nutrients and vitamins, including herbs and spices, all helping immunity.

 

There is possible, that many were asymptomatic even before the first wave, even before mass tests were developed. With low testing (no need, as there are no sick people in the hospitals) statistics are low.

 

Covid free hub might not survive the second and next waves, as the government made many blunders with vax. 

So the fight was won, but the war is still going on and outcome unknown  

 

OK, however,  you missed a primary factor that differentiated Asia from the Western world.  The D614G spike mutation, which arose about February 2020. Most of Asia including Thailand was seeded early with the slow poke D strain. The much faster spreading G strain seeded places in Europe, then the US, and went on to dominate the West's pandemic.

 

Research on G strain suggests it was a bigger increase in infectivity than the recent UK mutation. Of course the UK mutation adds on top of the G strain's  infectivity.

 

Thailand's first wave was an easier task. Myanmar now has a derivative of the G strain, which is now in Samut Shakon.

 

 

1 minute ago, Natai Beach said:

 

They will get there. 
Those top four countries have small populations. 
 

The whole world has a long way to go with the vaccines. And those figures are for only one dose only, the reality is still 99% of people still need to get more vaccinations.
 

And let’s not forget the 2 million dead that died before getting it. 
 

And the thousands that are dying everyday currently, it is too late for them also.

 

If Thailand can score under 100 deaths before vaccinations are rolled out then they have done an excellent job. Some countries are recording more deaths than that every couple of hours currently. 

Those figures are from at least one dose each.

 

Nobody is forgetting the 2 million dead already and rising, hence why the vaccines are being deployed after countries wisely ordered them in plenty of time.

 

India has also been doing a great job supplying some of the east asian countries, even offered 2 million to Thailand but hey, Thailand refused. Thanks to those who developed the vaccines, particularly the US and UK, with more Countries who have developed to gain approval in weeks. Apologies if I've missed other countries involved with the UK and US in the development such as Sweden.

4 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Thanks to those who developed the vaccines, particularly the US and UK, with more Countries who have developed to gain approval in weeks. Apologies if I've missed other countries involved with the UK and US in the development such as Sweden.

None of the vaccines being rushed out are ideal.

 

Hopefully one of the Thai ones will hit the spot. 
 

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailand-has-three-runners-in-global-race-for-covid-19-vaccine/

The three most advanced prototypes have been developed by Chulalongkorn University (CU)’s Faculty of Medicine, CU Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Bionet Asia Company Limited.

CU’s Faculty of Medicine has been granted more than Bt300 million by the National Vaccine Institute to research and develop the Chula-Cov19 mRNA vaccine. So far, tests on both guinea pigs and monkeys have been satisfactory and, if everything proceeds as planned, human trials for this prototype will kick off next April.

1 minute ago, Natai Beach said:

None of the vaccines being rushed out are ideal.

 

Hopefully one of the Thai ones will hit the spot. 
 

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailand-has-three-runners-in-global-race-for-covid-19-vaccine/

The three most advanced prototypes have been developed by Chulalongkorn University (CU)’s Faculty of Medicine, CU Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Bionet Asia Company Limited.

CU’s Faculty of Medicine has been granted more than Bt300 million by the National Vaccine Institute to research and develop the Chula-Cov19 mRNA vaccine. So far, tests on both guinea pigs and monkeys have been satisfactory and, if everything proceeds as planned, human trials for this prototype will kick off next April.

Name me a vaccine that is ideal please? Any at all for whatever disease or virus.........

 

But yes lets hope the one from Chulalongkorn University ranked 600 - 800 in the World University rankings is perfect in every way.

 

Bio Net Asia however appear a good and experienced Thai-French company with plenty of experience of manufacturing vaccines. 

 

When are the actual clinical trials to be carried out, particularly the all important phase 3?

 

Oh wait, Dr. Kiat of Chulalongkorn University said the centre will decide whether the third stage of the trial can be skipped, depending on technical data available at the time.

1 hour ago, rabas said:

 

OK, however,  you missed a primary factor that differentiated Asia from the Western world.  The D614G spike mutation, which arose about February 2020. Most of Asia including Thailand was seeded early with the slow poke D strain. The much faster spreading G strain seeded places in Europe, then the US, and went on to dominate the West's pandemic.

 

Research on G strain suggests it was a bigger increase in infectivity than the recent UK mutation. Of course the UK mutation adds on top of the G strain's  infectivity.

 

Thailand's first wave was an easier task. Myanmar now has a derivative of the G strain, which is now in Samut Shakon.

 

 

thailand had an italian strain, which was brought at the beginning of march to lumpini boxing stadium.

virus from myanma somehow doesn't affect much thai population. There might be an explanation beyond cramped conditions they live and work in, and lack of hygiene  

"China, where the first Covid-19 case was found in Wuhan, was excluded from the index due to the unavailability of data." 

Well that's ok then????

4th ain't bad imagine if we didn't have dodgy border officals letting you into Thailand for a few thousand baht..

 

Oh that wasn't mentioned ok ....

No one really knows why some Asian Countries have fared better in controlling the viras but of course additional deaths have not been taken into account nor has testing been carried out except where flare up have occured. Let's hope wet markets will not be reopened as these were the cause of the Wuhan outbreak

Congrats to Thailand for this.  I'd rather be here than just about any other country in the West.

2 minutes ago, Jeffr2 said:

Congrats to Thailand for this.  I'd rather be here than just about any other country in the West.

 

... and then came the pandemic, just one more reason to be here ...

Testing volumes and transparency obviously not amongst the factors considered.

Still regret walking on that plane to come home back in March......

from #4 to 94.....sigh   Hindsight slap to the face.....

17 hours ago, webfact said:

It evaluated 98 countries based on the availability of data across six indicators that were used to construct this index.

You only get out what you put in... if you get my drift.

Who has time to care about the Pandemic when we are being choked by toxic smog which kills far more people each year and steals years of life.  When you are ranked 2nd most polluted city on the planet its hard to be enthusiastic about the covid response.

43 minutes ago, josephbloggs said:

What, this post has been up 17 hours and not one of the usual bores has been along with the "no testing" cliche?

 

Look up dear chap, look up ????

18 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand 4th among 98 countries studied for best response in handling pandemic

By The Nation

 

 

Australian analysis centre, Lowy Institute, has come up with a ranking for countries in terms of managing the Covid-19 pandemic in 36 weeks after the 100th case was confirmed.

 

It evaluated 98 countries based on the availability of data across six indicators that were used to construct this index.

 

The country topping the list as the best in controlling the outbreak is New Zealand (94.4 points), followed by Vietnam (90.8), Taiwan (86.4), Thailand (84.2) and Cyprus (83.3). Meanwhile, Brazil (4.3), followed by Mexico (6.5), Colombia (7.7), Iran (15.9) and the United States (17.3) are said to have the worst management among 98 countries.

 

China, where the first Covid-19 case was found in Wuhan, was excluded from the index due to the unavailability of data.

 

The scores were calculated from six indicators, namely confirmed cases, confirmed deaths, confirmed cases per million people, confirmed deaths per million people, confirmed cases as a proportion of tests, and tests per 1,000 people.

 

Lowy Institute said that despite having more resources, high-income countries’ average scores in handling the outbreak is not much higher than developing countries.

 

Source: https://interactives.lowyinstitute.org/features/covid-performance/

 

Better healthcare systems and financial ability to sustain lockdowns were beneficial to managing the pandemic, research shows. These assets were particularly important at the height of the pandemic, when the ability of governments to support or supplement citizens’ incomes during extensive lockdowns became crucial.

 

Yet, these factors are not a guarantee of success against Covid-19, as demonstrated by the poor performance of several advanced economies, including the US and UK. Countervailing forces were also at play — advanced economies tend to have older populations, with a greater proportion of the population vulnerable to Covid-19, and many elderly citizens living in old-age care facilities, which were particularly prone to virus outbreaks.

 

The lead established by high-income countries narrowed significantly towards the end of 2020 prior to the unrolling of mass Covid-19 vaccination programmes.

 

Developing countries that had dealt with the crisis well in early stages, have now hit a wall due to their financial and resource limits. However, compared to advanced countries, the rate of fatality has been quite low even in countries like India, where the pandemic accelerated dramatically.

 

 

Despite the data being less reliable, there are possibly other variables affecting these outcomes. One factor may be that many developing countries have younger populations, who may be less prone to the worst effects of the virus.

 

The Covid-19 disease continues to spread worldwide with more than 100 million confirmed cases across 190 countries and 2 million deaths since January last year, after China announced the first case of “viral pneumonia” in Wuhan.

 

Read more at at https://interactives.lowyinstitute.org/.../covid.../

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30401933

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2021-01-28

 

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

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

 

 

Interesting..

 

Tanzania not even listed !

 

????

I agree with an earlier comment about testing cranks. The issues are many but 2 stand out:

 

(a) the reliability of the test; and

 

(b) the information derived from the test.

 

Leaving aside the dubious reliability of the 2 main Covid tests, the information derived from a test is merely a snap shot. A negative test proves very little since there are numerous cases where a second test indicates the subject is Covid positive. Testing is not a reliable indicator of infection, it is a feedback loop between reliability and a snap shot of infection.

 

The only reliable indicator is mortality. Thai Covid death rates are minimal. The extent of the epidemic is low. QED.

19 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand 4th among 98 countries studied for best response in handling pandemic

By The Nation

 

 

Australian analysis centre, Lowy Institute, has come up with a ranking for countries in terms of managing the Covid-19 pandemic in 36 weeks after the 100th case was confirmed.

 

It evaluated 98 countries based on the availability of data across six indicators that were used to construct this index.

 

The country topping the list as the best in controlling the outbreak is New Zealand (94.4 points), followed by Vietnam (90.8), Taiwan (86.4), Thailand (84.2) and Cyprus (83.3). Meanwhile, Brazil (4.3), followed by Mexico (6.5), Colombia (7.7), Iran (15.9) and the United States (17.3) are said to have the worst management among 98 countries.

 

China, where the first Covid-19 case was found in Wuhan, was excluded from the index due to the unavailability of data.

 

The scores were calculated from six indicators, namely confirmed cases, confirmed deaths, confirmed cases per million people, confirmed deaths per million people, confirmed cases as a proportion of tests, and tests per 1,000 people.

 

Lowy Institute said that despite having more resources, high-income countries’ average scores in handling the outbreak is not much higher than developing countries.

 

Source: https://interactives.lowyinstitute.org/features/covid-performance/

 

Better healthcare systems and financial ability to sustain lockdowns were beneficial to managing the pandemic, research shows. These assets were particularly important at the height of the pandemic, when the ability of governments to support or supplement citizens’ incomes during extensive lockdowns became crucial.

 

Yet, these factors are not a guarantee of success against Covid-19, as demonstrated by the poor performance of several advanced economies, including the US and UK. Countervailing forces were also at play — advanced economies tend to have older populations, with a greater proportion of the population vulnerable to Covid-19, and many elderly citizens living in old-age care facilities, which were particularly prone to virus outbreaks.

 

The lead established by high-income countries narrowed significantly towards the end of 2020 prior to the unrolling of mass Covid-19 vaccination programmes.

 

Developing countries that had dealt with the crisis well in early stages, have now hit a wall due to their financial and resource limits. However, compared to advanced countries, the rate of fatality has been quite low even in countries like India, where the pandemic accelerated dramatically.

 

 

Despite the data being less reliable, there are possibly other variables affecting these outcomes. One factor may be that many developing countries have younger populations, who may be less prone to the worst effects of the virus.

 

The Covid-19 disease continues to spread worldwide with more than 100 million confirmed cases across 190 countries and 2 million deaths since January last year, after China announced the first case of “viral pneumonia” in Wuhan.

 

Read more at at https://interactives.lowyinstitute.org/.../covid.../

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30401933

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2021-01-28

 

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

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

 

1when you have minimal testing like Thailand it will be ranked very high 

14 hours ago, Bkk Brian said:

Name me a vaccine that is ideal please? Any at all for whatever disease or virus

polio and smallpox seem to be gone... 

19 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand 4th among 98 countries studied for best response in handling pandemic

By The Nation

 

 

Australian analysis centre, Lowy Institute, has come up with a ranking for countries in terms of managing the Covid-19 pandemic in 36 weeks after the 100th case was confirmed.

 

It evaluated 98 countries based on the availability of data across six indicators that were used to construct this index.

 

The country topping the list as the best in controlling the outbreak is New Zealand (94.4 points), followed by Vietnam (90.8), Taiwan (86.4), Thailand (84.2) and Cyprus (83.3). Meanwhile, Brazil (4.3), followed by Mexico (6.5), Colombia (7.7), Iran (15.9) and the United States (17.3) are said to have the worst management among 98 countries.

 

China, where the first Covid-19 case was found in Wuhan, was excluded from the index due to the unavailability of data.

 

The scores were calculated from six indicators, namely confirmed cases, confirmed deaths, confirmed cases per million people, confirmed deaths per million people, confirmed cases as a proportion of tests, and tests per 1,000 people.

 

Lowy Institute said that despite having more resources, high-income countries’ average scores in handling the outbreak is not much higher than developing countries.

 

Source: https://interactives.lowyinstitute.org/features/covid-performance/

 

Better healthcare systems and financial ability to sustain lockdowns were beneficial to managing the pandemic, research shows. These assets were particularly important at the height of the pandemic, when the ability of governments to support or supplement citizens’ incomes during extensive lockdowns became crucial.

 

Yet, these factors are not a guarantee of success against Covid-19, as demonstrated by the poor performance of several advanced economies, including the US and UK. Countervailing forces were also at play — advanced economies tend to have older populations, with a greater proportion of the population vulnerable to Covid-19, and many elderly citizens living in old-age care facilities, which were particularly prone to virus outbreaks.

 

The lead established by high-income countries narrowed significantly towards the end of 2020 prior to the unrolling of mass Covid-19 vaccination programmes.

 

Developing countries that had dealt with the crisis well in early stages, have now hit a wall due to their financial and resource limits. However, compared to advanced countries, the rate of fatality has been quite low even in countries like India, where the pandemic accelerated dramatically.

 

 

Despite the data being less reliable, there are possibly other variables affecting these outcomes. One factor may be that many developing countries have younger populations, who may be less prone to the worst effects of the virus.

 

The Covid-19 disease continues to spread worldwide with more than 100 million confirmed cases across 190 countries and 2 million deaths since January last year, after China announced the first case of “viral pneumonia” in Wuhan.

 

Read more at at https://interactives.lowyinstitute.org/.../covid.../

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30401933

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2021-01-28

 

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

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

 

How would TVers rank the four as a desirable place to live?

4 minutes ago, Mywayboy said:

when you have minimal testing like Thailand it will be ranked very high 

If there was lots of covid and minimal testing, the virus would spread like wildfire...

 

Having few cases, seems to mean it is not needed... and they do seem quite vigilant here about keeping it under control... 

 

credit where credit is due

2 minutes ago, elgenon said:

How would TVers rank the four as a desirable place to live?

I am certainly happy living here in Thailand and cannot imagine living in another place - 

 

I wouldn't mind visiting Vietnam and New Zealand - - 

5 minutes ago, 1FinickyOne said:

polio and smallpox seem to be gone... 

you miss the point entirely.

 

I was responding to a poster who was insinuating that the UK and US covid vaccines were not ideal.

 

No vaccine is ideal, they all have their side effects just as all normal medication has side effects. Just because a vaccine has eradicated an epidemic it could still also cause serious side effects and even death in a minority of cases. As such vaccines are forever being further developed to improve efficiency and reduce side effects. This was my point.

1 minute ago, Bkk Brian said:

you miss the point entirely.

only because I read and quoted your words... 

 

 

Just now, 1FinickyOne said:

only because I read and quoted your words... 

 

 

Next time try quoting the entire post for context

1 hour ago, Salerno said:

 

Look up dear chap, look up ????

Yay!!

14 hours ago, Bkk Brian said:

Name me a vaccine that is ideal please? Any at all for whatever disease or virus.........

 

But yes lets hope the one from Chulalongkorn University ranked 600 - 800 in the World University rankings is perfect in every way.

 

Bio Net Asia however appear a good and experienced Thai-French company with plenty of experience of manufacturing vaccines. 

 

When are the actual clinical trials to be carried out, particularly the all important phase 3?

 

Oh wait, Dr. Kiat of Chulalongkorn University said the centre will decide whether the third stage of the trial can be skipped, depending on technical data available at the time.

You threw your comment out nearly sounding like a challenge.. i took that challenge and now your not happy..

 

You surely asked for ideal vaccines... and I named a couple for you that were widely accepted as pretty darn important and surely close to ideal...

 

But, no problem - here is your comment in context... it doesn't appear to change anything... sorry.