When the coronavirus began to spread rapidly in the Chinese city of Wuhan, Thailand seemed vulnerable. It was the first country outside China to report a case of Covid-19 when on January 13, a 61-year-old woman from Wuhan was confirmed to have tested positive in Bangkok. Thailand was then at the peak of the tourist season, welcoming travelers from all over the world. A big bang seemed almost inevitable.
However, 11 months later, like many of its Southeast Asian neighbors, Thailand has so far avoided the dangerous outbreak of the virus. As of 15 now (December 17), Thailand has registered 4,246 infections since the beginning of the year - just over a fifth of cases registered in the UK on Monday alone. The victims are 60.
Prof. Anucha Apisarnthanarak, head of the infectious disease department at Thammasat University, told the Guardian that the country's success was clear communication from health experts, a willingness to allow scientists to direct measures against Covid and effective blockade, which was followed by the public. .
"I think one of the most influential interventions was wearing the mask everywhere," he added. "We did it not because we knew [that it would be effective] but because somehow this is Asian culture." Evidence suggests that this significantly reduced the number of infections and deaths.
As Thailand kept the number of infections under control, medical teams were able to provide greater care for positive patients. Anyone who is confirmed to be infected is hospitalized, even if they are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms - a policy that reduced the risk of further local transmission.
Fillimisht, vetëm dy laboratorë në Tajlandë kishin kapacitet për të testuar Covid-19, por numri është rritur në 250, tha për Guardian Dr. Supaporn Wacharapluesadee, zëvendësdrejtoresha e Qendrës së Shkencës së Shëndetit te Sëmundjet Infektive të Kryqit të Kuq. Një raport i OBSH-së për përgjigjen e Tajlandës në korrik, deklaroi se shkalla e fatalitetit ishte rreth 1.7%.
Demografia dhe mjedisi gjithashtu kanë luajtur një rol të rëndësishëm. Obeziteti dhe faktorë të tjerë të mundshëm rreziku, si hipertensioni dhe diabeti, janë relativisht më pak të zakonshëm në Tajlandë sesa në shumë prej vendeve të goditura më keq nga koronavirusi.
Pavarësisht suksesit të menaxhimit të infeksioneve, pandemia ka rezultuar shkatërruese për ekonominë. Kufizimet e rrepta kanë bllokuar turizmin dhe miliona njerëz kanë humbur punën.
Anyone going to Thailand must be quarantined at designated locations for 14 days and undergo multiple Covid tests. Foreign nationals wishing to visit Thailand must apply for a Special Tourist Visa (STV). The government decree stipulated that the STV will only be given to passengers coming from low-risk countries.
Sources: Guardian, GOV.UK
