No New Waves Of COVID-19 In Thailand - Senior Health Official

By Linda Khoo Hui Li BANGKOK, Dec 7 (Bernama) -- Thailand is not facing a new wave of COVID-19 pandemic despite rising number of cases linked to Thais returning from Myanmar border town, Tachileik, a senior health official said Sunday. Disease Control Department director Dr Sophon Iamsirithaworn said a total of 23 COVID-19 cases including 11 in Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai (five), Bangkok (three), one each in Phichit, Phayao, Ratchaburi and Sing Buri have been linked to an entertainment outlet in Tachileik, since end of November. “We are not in the second wave of COVID-19 as most cases were imported from neighbouring country (Myanmar). To date, at least two locally transmitted cases have been reported and we managed to track their close contacts,” he told a press conference here. On Nov 28, a Thai woman who returned from Myanmar, and bypassed immigration checks and compulsory quarantine, was tested positive for COVID-19 days later. Following contact tracing, the public health authorities found more Thai women crossing the border and dodging compulsory quarantine. To date, Thailand has reported 4,086 COVID-19 cases and 60 fatalities. Over the last 24 hours, 14 new COVID-19 cases have been reported including one locally transmitted case – a 26-year-old Thai woman working at an alternative state quarantine (ASQ) in Bangkok. Of the 14 new cases, three are Thai nationals entering the kingdom via natural border crossing – a 26-year-old woman working at an entertainment outlet in Tachileik, a 70-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman who travelled to Mae Sai in Chiang Rai. Meanwhile, Chiang Rai governor, Prajon Prachsakul said another nine COVID-19 cases have been reported in the province but not included in Sunday’s tally. He said all new patients are Thai women, aged between 20 and 44, working at the same entertainment outlet in Tachileik and returned home via legal channels. “All new patients live and work at the same venue with previous confirmed cases returning from Tachileik,” he said. --BERNAMA