A young Bangkok woman was one of two new COVID-19 cases announced today by health officials.
COVID-19 task force spokesman Taweesilp Wissanuyothin said the unidentified 19-year-old had become infected after coming into contact with a family member on the 16th day in a row that daily infection reports have come in fewer than 10. No new deaths were reported.
Thailand has recorded 3,017 infections since the outbreak began in January, though testing remains limited and the true extent of its impact remains unknown. Still, over two weeks of low reported cases has boosted confidence that the situation is in hand and fueled interest in reopening the hurting economy.
While the next phase of easing restrictions on travel and commerce are expected as soon as Sunday, it does not seem that venues such as pubs and bars will reopen anytime soon.
Taweeslip referred to several dozen new South Korean cases associated with pubs that gave them concern.
“We have many foreign cases to learn from,” he said. “It’s up to us in which way we learn from them.”
Responding to criticism that Thailand has not aggressively expanded testing, the spokesman said that the number of people tested was not small, arguing that testing per capita was higher than in Taiwan, Vietnam, Japan, the Philippines or Indonesia. He did not say how many people have been tested. While officials routinely announce the number of samples processed, they do not make clear how many people that means.
As for concerns that the virus could spread at makeshift stalls set up around the country for people to leave or take food, Taweeslip said it was normal for people to want to help and urged them to maintain social distancing and cleanliness.
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