Coronavirus (Covid-19)

New Covid-19 cases in 17 provinces, CCSA spokesperson says to view migrants as “family”

Published

Wednesday, December 23, 2020 15:32

PHOTO: Thaipost

With Covid-19 cases spreading in Thailand and many concerned with the migrant population after the outbreak at a Samut Sakhon seafood market, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration spokesperson Taweesin Visanuyothin says to view the migrant workers as family.

“When family members are sick, we have to take care of them.”

46 new Covid-19 cases were confirmed today in the CCSA’s daily report. 39 were local transmissions in 17 provinces while the other 7 were detected in quarantine for people travelling from overseas. Many of the local cases are Thai fishermen and other workers in the seafood industry. There are now 1,607 people in Thailand currently receiving medical treatment for the coronavirus.

Out of the 39 local cases in today’s official count from the CCSA, 11 cases were detected in Bangkok, 5 in Chachoengsao, 3 in Nakhon Pathom, 2 in Kamphaeng Phet, 2 in Tak, 2 in Prachin Buri, 2 in Ayutthaya, 2 in Samut Prakan and 2 in Saraburi. Cases were also detected in each of the following: Phetchabun, Krabi, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Phuket and Suphan Buri.

Fingers are pointing at Burmese migrants after hundreds of mostly migrant workers near a seafood market in Samut Sakhon tested positive for the virus over the weekend. Taweesin says he wants the Thai community to view and treat the migrants like family.

“I want everyone to view them (migrant workers) as family. They have been helping us in driving our economy for a very long time. When family members are sick, we have to take care of them. Don’t hesitate to help by donating or providing necessities since they are living in hard times.”

New Covid-19 cases in 17 provinces, CCSA spokesperson says to view migrants as "family" | News by Thaiger

Daily new Covid-19 cases in Thailand as of December 22, according to Worldometers.

Active Covid-19 cases in Thailand as of December 22, according to Worldometers.

SOURCES: Nation Thailand | Bangkok Post

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News Categories: Coronavirus (Covid-19)

Related Topics:Bangkok Coronavirus COVID covid-19 Samut Sakhon Thailand

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24 Comments

Alte Ledertasche

Wednesday, December 23, 2020 at 3:46 pm

Respect. But this statement should come from Pinoccio or at least from Bob the Builder

Reply
Stefan Svensson

Wednesday, December 23, 2020 at 4:07 pm

There are many who have helped the Thai economy for decades … or am I wrong when I mean the farangs? Have never felt that they are treated as a family, perhaps due to racism against the white population, what do I know. Merry Christmas and such a happy new year it is only possible to wish you all wherever you are

Reply
- Ynwaps
  
  Wednesday, December 23, 2020 at 5:28 pm
  
  Have you tried cognitive behavioral therapy yet? Might help :/
  
  Reply
- Mick
  
  Wednesday, December 23, 2020 at 5:43 pm
  
  Don’t know where you live in Thailand, however in the area l live l do not see racism, l see genuine nice people who had always treated me with respect.
  
  Reply
  - Issan John
    
    Wednesday, December 23, 2020 at 9:26 pm
    
    Sorry to say it Mick, but in my experience sadly racism is no less rife here than it is in the West, particularly where those from Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia are concerned.
    
    Reply
Wijnschenk

Wednesday, December 23, 2020 at 5:34 pm

Again.
When Thailand was hit by a tsunami the world (farangs) helped Thailand.
When 12 children needed help in a cave
The world (farangs) helped Thailand.
NOW Thailand can do something back……
Help stramded people get back to their loved ones.
All theydo is steal more money….
Thank you Thailand!!

Reply
- Jake barlow
  
  Wednesday, December 23, 2020 at 6:21 pm
  
  Sawadee kap!
  
  Reply
- Issan John
  
  Wednesday, December 23, 2020 at 6:24 pm
  
  “Again”. For crissake …..
  
  You’re not “stranded”, you’re just not able to come here.
  
  Why should Thailand put people’s lives at risk here just so you can see your girlfriend?
  
  If you’re that desperate you could pay for her to come to see you, but I doubt she wants to.
  
  Reply
  - Bob Hasbig Balls
    
    Wednesday, December 23, 2020 at 6:45 pm
    
    Chin meet nutsack!
    
    Reply
Isan Sucker

Wednesday, December 23, 2020 at 7:33 pm

All the trouble from dirty farangs is obvious

Reply
John Brown

Wednesday, December 23, 2020 at 8:20 pm

What strain was the cluster found around the BNH nurse who was infected working in an ASQ?

Honestly, over-focusing on the Myanmar G clade, and the migrant workers, right now is a very very bad idea.

Blokes: please warn everyone you know to stay home for the next 2 weeks till it gets bad enough that there’s no choice but transparency. You’re not out of the fire just because you’re here. That is all I am able to say directly.

Please everyone take care of yourselves.

Reply
- The Thaiger
  
  Wednesday, December 23, 2020 at 9:13 pm
  
  Is there a translation available for your comment?
  
  Reply
  - John Brown
    
    Thursday, December 24, 2020 at 3:11 am
    
    That is not a good idea and I strongly advise you do not produce one. If you would like to pursue the matter further, make your inquiries discreetly to the relevant authorities or their knowledgeable contacts, off-the-record, and then use your best judgment with the information.
    
    Reply
Issan John

Wednesday, December 23, 2020 at 9:19 pm

JB, I don’t know but I doubt the strains are being sequenced for every case – I was surprised to see recently that Wales has sequenced more cases in the last week than France has since the pandemic began!

I don’t understand why you think the Bkk / ASQ cluster is so important when there’s no indication of any ongoing transmission, and there were plenty of tests done, but not the Samut Sakhon outbreak with hundreds of positive tests (IIRC 44% of those tested who worked in / around the market) and spreaders are known in other provinces.

I’m not sure that ‘nudge, nudge, wink, wink’ really adds much …..

How can this not be by far the most serious outbreak here so far, by a country mile?

FWIW, I think people are taking this very seriously and reacting far more quickly here than they are, even now, in the West. Already, even though AFAIK there are still no cases in “my” province, everyone in the town’s back to wearing masks and the market’s been cordoned off again with temperature testing at the one permitted entrance. All pretty basic, but it all helps.

Reply
- John Brown
  
  Thursday, December 24, 2020 at 10:14 am
  
  It appears TT has decided to not publish my reply publicly, which is much to my relief. Not a problem at all TT.
  
  Wherever you are in the country, it’s best to treat the situation as red zone-serious until at least 2 weeks pass without any local transmission, as that is the only indicator we have that the outbreaks have been contained, and even then understand that this is not a guarantee, not even a practical guarantee, until the testing kits have been re-updated to account for all possible known circulating global strains, particularly those circulating anywhere with international flights. If you must venture out, keep your wits fully about you. Be safe everyone.
  
  Reply
- John Brown
  
  Thursday, December 24, 2020 at 2:24 pm
  
  IJ, just a note; I had requested the moderators forward it to you privately (and liability-free) if they weren’t going to publish (which I am glad they did not). So I hope that you have received my answers to your questions. Take care regardless.
  
  Reply
John

Wednesday, December 23, 2020 at 10:32 pm

We all have to mask up again guys, just for a bit more, and for all those disbelievers who were saying that there never will be vaccine for it, where are you now and what kind of stupid theories will you come up with now?

Reply
Mike

Wednesday, December 23, 2020 at 11:58 pm

The fact this needs to e said highlights how backward-looking Thailand is in terms of race relations and racial equality in its society.

Reply
- Issan John
  
  Thursday, December 24, 2020 at 10:39 am
  
  If you’re referring to the authorities saying that migrants should be treated as family, etc, I think you should look closer to home for countries that are considerably more “backward-looking … in terms of race relations and racial equality”.
  
  Much of the West, all too evidently, but particularly those whose elected governments still openly support a “hostile environment” and isolation, build a wall, “me first” policies.
  
  Reply
Leo Z

Thursday, December 24, 2020 at 12:15 am

Many/most people (including the government) don’t view “farangs” who live, work, invest and pay taxes in Thailand as “family”. They’ll view seasonal Burmese migrant workers as “family”? I think the next investigative report by Thaiger should be on what some CCSA people are smoking.

Reply
Bigsleazypappa

Thursday, December 24, 2020 at 4:08 am

I’m missing my candy in soi 6 hopefully the borders will be open next year even if you have to show you’ve had the vaccine!! 2021 moving forward can’t be any worse let’s open up and party again,and if all the boring expats haveanything to say jog on

Reply
Keith

Thursday, December 24, 2020 at 7:20 am

Do you put your family in crowded tin shacks with little or no sanitation, pay them less than minimum wage, then you don’t treat you family very well

Reply
Issan John

Thursday, December 24, 2020 at 11:02 am

You hardly need to look further than some of the comments made here to see why.

As for the Burmese (and Lao and Khmer), like “families” they have a shared background, ethnicity, religion and culture with Thais, but however much we farangs may “live, work, invest and pay taxes” here, and even marry, we don’t.

Reply
babble

Thursday, December 24, 2020 at 4:02 pm

Is there a website with the zone map?

Reply

Caitlin Ashworth

Caitlin Ashworth is a writer from the United States who has lived in Thailand since 2018. She graduated from the University of South Florida St. Petersburg with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and media studies in 2016. She was a reporter for the Daily Hampshire Gazette In Massachusetts. She also interned at the Richmond Times-Dispatch in Virginia and Sarasota Herald-Tribune in Florida.

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