A 60-year-old woman back from Russia became the latest returnee to be diagnosed with COVID-19 as health officials promoted the new smartphone app version of their nationwide (health) surveillance program.
Announcing the day’s sole infection report, COVID task force spokesperson Taweesilp Wisanuyothin said the Thailand Wins app had been downloaded by more than 120,000 people since it launched Friday.
That leaves just 99.98% of the population to go.
“The app is very easy to use. It will make a trace easier when a new infection is discovered and reduce the amount of people being tested,” Taweesilp said. “We asked for cooperation so we will be back to normal life as soon as possible.”
Bars, playgrounds, boxing stadiums in Bangkok to stay closed until July
He also today denied any link between the application and gambling spam that many have complained has invaded their phones after scanning QR codes in the past week.
Taweesilp also conceded that the system, which has only collected data since it launched last month, is still incapable of issuing notifications to users.
Still, he encouraged more people to download it, and more stores to register as movie theaters and bowling alleys joined businesses allowed to reopen today.
Today’s report brought total known infections to 3,082 since the outbreak began in January. Total fatalities remain at 57 since no new deaths have been reported since May 25. Nearly all cases in the past week have been attributed to Thai returning home and placed automatically in mandatory quarantine.
As for why facial work is banned at massage parlors but allowed at clinics, the spokesman said the latter have more precautions in place. He noted that the mouth and nose are easy infection vectors, so the task force is being selective. Its confidence hasn’t been boosted by the number of overseas Thai masseuses returning home infected.
On Friday, the task force announced that businesses such as theaters, bowling alleys, amulet markets, nurseries and exhibition halls of under 20,000sqm could reopen in Phase 3 after being shut down since March. Shopping malls and department stores can operate until 9pm, one hour more than the previous phase.
Businesses such as bars, game arcades, and boxing stadiums remained close for now
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Bars, playgrounds, boxing stadiums in Bangkok to stay closed until July
