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Bangkok COVID-19 outbreak may take months to contain, says gov’t

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Panarat Thepgumpanat and Patpicha Tanakasempipat, Reuters

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/reuters/04/08/coronavirus-thailand.jpg"/><figcaption>Local residents queue for a COVID-19 nasal swab test after hundreds of residents of Watthana district and the trendy Thonglor neighborhood tested positive for the coronavirus disease in Bangkok, April 8, 2021. <em>Athit Perawongmetha, Reuters</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>BANGKOK—A coronavirus outbreak in Thailand&#x27;s capital may take more than two months to control, a health official said on Thursday, as authorities announced a broad ban on nightlife to tackle a new wave of infections and a highly contagious variant.</p><p>Authorities expect to arrest the outbreak in one or two months in the provinces, but it will likely take longer in Bangkok, the epicenter, said Kiatiphum Wongrajit, the ministry&#x27;s permanent secretary.</p><p>&quot;The main source of the infections is in Bangkok&#x27;s entertainment venues, which could take longer to contain, depending on measures,&quot; Kiatiphum said in a statement.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/09/21/reported-covid-19-deaths-in-ph-reach-record-high-daily-average-of-117-govt-data">Reported COVID-19 deaths in PH reach record-high daily average of 117 — gov’t data</a></li></ul><p>The COVID-19 task force on Thursday said nightspots in Bangkok and 40 provinces, including pubs and karaoke bars, would be closed for two weeks. It did not specify when.</p><p>The task force also asked employers to let staff work from home and urged against non-essential travel.</p><p>Thailand reported 405 new COVID-19 infections on Thursday, in an outbreak that has reached 20 provinces and forced nearly a third of cabinet minister to self-isolate due to exposure to cases.</p><p>The spike in infections comes at a tricky time for Thailand, ahead of next week&#x27;s annual Songkran festival, known for big gatherings and notoriously crowded water fights that authorities have banned.</p><p>Adding to concerns, Thailand on Wednesday confirmed the presence locally of the highly transmissible coronavirus variant B.1.1.7 first identified in Britain.</p><p>It has been found in more than 100 countries and has been blamed for fueling new waves of infections in record numbers. (https://tmsnrt.rs/3dFjSo6)</p><p>The army was setting up a field hospital with 3,000 beds in 10 army bases, braced for a possible surge in new patients, a spokesman said.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/08/21/philippines-covid19-cases-april82021">Philippines logs 9,216 new COVID-19 cases; 167,279 active cases is record-high</a></li></ul><p>Thailand plans to start its mass immunization campaign in June, when a locally-manufactured AstraZeneca vaccine becomes available. It has so far immunized about 300,000 people, mostly health workers.</p><p>Thai experts are puzzled at how the UK variant evaded the country&#x27;s strict quarantine system, which has helped keep overall cases to a relatively low 30,310 and deaths at just 95.</p><p>The task force said a reduction in the quarantine period introduced this month may be reconsidered.</p><p>Yong Poovorawan, a senior virologist, said the UK variant may have been brought to Thailand by land from Cambodia, where it is also present. (Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat, Panu Wongcha-um and Patpicha Tanakasempipat; Editing by Martin Petty)</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/multimedia/slideshow/04/09/21/ecq-baseco-sap">IN PHOTOS: How one woman lined up for hours to get &#x27;ECQ ayuda&#x27;</a></li></ul><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1657467" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>Authorities expect to arrest the outbreak in one or two months in the provinces, but it will likely take longer in Bangkok, the epicenter.</p>

Authorities expect to arrest the outbreak in one or two months in the provinces, but it will likely take longer in Bangkok, the epicenter.

Bangkok COVID-19 outbreak may take months to contain, says gov’t

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Bangkok COVID-19 outbreak may take months to contain, says gov’t

Panarat Thepgumpanat and Patpicha Tanakasempipat,

Reuters

Published Apr 09, 2021 05:00 AM PHT

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