Reduction in mandatory quarantine back on the table again

6 more Thai women, who crossed the Myanmar border into Chiang Rai, have tested positive for Covid-19, according to the Public Health Ministry. 4 other Thai women in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai recently tested positive after returning from Myanmar’s Tachileik district. All 10 women evaded the mandatory 14 quarantine.

Some cases trace back to the 1G1 hotel and entertainment venue in Tachileik where some of the women confirm that they worked, stayed or visited. Some women said they worked at hotels or bars in Tachileik, but reports do not name the establishments.

Case 1

A 28 year old woman went to work at the 1G1 venue in early November and returned on November 27. A motorbike driver picked her up at the border and took her to the Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai district bus station. She then took a bus back to her home in Phayao.

She went grocery shopping, out to restaurants and to a beer garden. She drove to Chiang Mai and tested positive for Covid-19 on November 30 at a private hospital. She returned to her hometown to be treated at the Phayao Hospital.

Case 2 & 3

After crossing the Thai-Myanmar border on November 28, a 21 year old and 25 year old flew from Chiang Rai to Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport. The 25 year old then flew to Phichit to visit a friend where she went to local bars. The 21 year old tested positive for Covid-19 yesterday.

Following her friend’s positive result, the 25 year old was “caught” an taken to a quarantine facility where she tested positive, according to Nation Thailand.

Case 4

A 36 year old travelled to Tachileik on November 3 and visited the 1G1 entertainment venue on November 23 and 24. A couple days later, she developed symptoms of a cough, runny nose and body ache. She treated her symptoms with over the counter drugs and crossed the natural border into Thailand on November 30 with help from a Myanmar national.

The woman travelled to Chiang Mai and then took a flight to Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport. She took a taxi form the airport to the Mo Chit Bus Terminal and then took a bus to Ratchaburi.

After hearing about a friend tested positive for Covid-19, the woman went to a local hospital and tested positive for the virus today.

Cases 5 & 6

A 23 year old and a 35 year old worked in Tachileik and returned to Thailand on November 24. They travelled to Chiang Mai and then went to their home in Tak’s Mae Sot district.

After hearing about a friend testing positive, the women got tested and the results came out positive for Covid-19.

Previous local Covid-19 cases

A woman in Chiang Mai and 3 other women in Chiang Rai tested positive for Covid-19 after working in Tachileik. They allegedly entered Thailand illegally, dodging the mandatory 14 day quarantine.

The women could face charges for entering Thailand illegally and violating the Emergency Decree. Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul says he’s asked authorities to press charges “to the fullest extent of the law.”

SOURCE: Nation Thailand

17 new Covid-19 cases were detected in quarantine, according to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. The total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases is raised to 4,026 with 3,822 recoveries and 60 deaths. 144 people are currently receiving medical treatment for the coronavirus.

• A 56 year old Thai woman travelling from Turkey tested positive for Covid-19. She arrived on November 17 and tested positive 5 days later while at an alternative state quarantine facility.
• A 53 year old Thai man travelling from Kuwait tested positive for Covid-19. He arrived on November 17 and tested positive 3 days later while at a Chon Buri quarantine hotel.
• A 24 year old Thai woman travelling from Germany tested positive for Covid-19. She arrived on November 19 and tested positive 11 days later while at a Bangkok quarantine hotel.
• A 44 year old Egyptian man tested positive for Covid-19. He arrived on November 24 and tested positive 5 days later at a quarantine hotel in Samut Prakan.
• A 31 year old Thai man travelling from Israel tested positive for Covid-19. He returned on November 25 and tested positive 5 days later at a Bangkok quarantine hotel.
• 2 Thai nationals travelling from Japan tested positive for Covid-19. The 24 year old man and 29 year old woman arrived on November 25 and tested positive 4 days later at a Chon Buri quarantine hotel.
• A 32 year old Thai woman travelling from Sweden tested positive for Covid-19. She arrived on November 26 and tested positive 4 days later while at Bangkok quarantine hotel.
• A 57 year old Sudanese woman tested positive for Covid-19. She arrived on November 30 and tested positive the same day after checking in to a alternative hospital quarantine in Bangkok.
• 5 Thai nationals, ages 26, 31 and 56, travelling from Switzerland tested positive for Covid-19. They arrived on November 25 and tested positive 4 days later while at a state quarantine facility in Chon Buri.
• A 69 year old Thai man travelling from the United States tested positive for Covid-19. He arrived on November 29 and tested positive the same day after checking in to a hotel quarantine in Bangkok.
• 2 Thai nationals, ages 43 and 33, travelling from Myanmar tested positive for Covid-19. They arrived on November 24 and tested positive 4 and 5 days later while at a hotel quarantine in Bangkok.

Daily new Covid-19 cases in Thailand as of December 1, according to Worldometers.

SOURCE: Nation Thailand

97 police officers, from 41 police stations, are currently being investigated for an alleged scam involving Covid-19 payments meant for officers who worked extra shifts during the crisis. The case was assigned by national police chief Suwat Jangyodsuk in November, when it came to light that some officers may have fraudulently claimed allowances meant for others.

In one incident, an officer responsible for transferring extra payments to police on the southern island of Phuket transferred the money to his own accountant instead. At the time, the transfer was dismissed as a mistake (in his favour), with the officer in question receiving a warning, and payments then made to the qualifying officers.

Wissanu Prasatthong-Osot from the National Internal Affairs Police says the investigation should reach a conclusion within the next 10 days.

“The result of the investigation should be ready in 10 days. Currently, 97 officers in 41 police stations ranging from non-commissioned to generals are under investigation for being involved in the swindle. The bureau aims to provide justice to all policemen involved. After the investigation concludes, the victims will receive their full allowance, while the offending officers will be punished under the law and disciplinary standards.”

Nation Thailand reports that a full list of alleged offenders has been sent to Suwat, with Wissanu promising that none will escape prosecution.

“The National Police chief had also ordered the transfer of offending officers at the commander and sub-commander levels out of their areas as per the investigation procedures.”

SOURCE: Nation Thailand