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BANGKOK: Thailand’s Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul (photo) on Saturday (May 9) proposed that China and South Korea be removed from the list of countries in Thailand at high risk of Covid-19 infection after her daily case count was reduced to single digits.
The measure, aimed at gradually restoring economic and social ties, was provisionally approved by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha at a meeting on foreign policy on Thursday (May 7), according to Dr. Taweesin Visanuyothin, spokesman for the Center. Covid’s government. -19 Situation Administration (CCSA).
“The Prime Minister and the CCSA committee agreed (with Anutin’s proposal),” said Dr. Taweesin.
“However, several measures must be taken with care, especially those related to traveling abroad. If a country is removed from the list, we must manage access instead of allowing freedom of movement.
“The issue will be discussed further before a decision is made (about removing countries from the list).”
Dr. Suwannachai Wattanayingcharoen, director general of the Department of Disease Control, said it was correct to reduce the threat level of Chinese and South Korean coronaviruses since the spread had been reduced to just a few new cases per day.
But removing China and South Korea from the list did not mean that their citizens would be allowed to immediately enter Thailand, as the kingdom was still under emergency decree.
He added that other countries on the risk list were not discussed at the meeting, as potential critical points of Covid-19 are still considered. Taweesin also gave an update on Thailand’s battle against the coronavirus. As of May 4, around 230,000 people have been screened for Covid-19, a ratio of 3,421 per million residents.
The department has targeted a test rate of 6,000 per million, or 400,000 in total, meaning an additional 170,000 people across the country will be evaluated. About 15,000 samples have been taken from Bangkok residents for the International Standard Laboratory Test RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction).
Four hundred random samples will also be taken in each province.
“This proactive surveillance test is being performed to detect asymptomatic cases of Covid-19,” said Dr. Suwannachai.
“The purpose of this test is not to diagnose and treat the disease, but to build public confidence. If an asymptomatic person is found to have contracted Covid-19, they will be isolated for treatment.
“Asymptomatic infections tend to go away on an average of 10 days, but this also depends on the person. These tests will slow the spread of the infection as part of preparations to relax restrictions on ‘green’ (low-risk) businesses. in the next phase of the bull run (May 17). ” – The Nation Thailand / Asian News Network
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