Covid-19 cases could lead to a drop in revenue for New Years, economist says

A rise in local Covid-19 infections could discourage many people from travelling and going out for New Years celebrations, costing Thailand’s tourism industry 14 billion baht to more than 16 billion baht, according to economist Anusorn Tamajai.

Recently, 17 Thais tested positive for Covid-19 after returning from the Myanmar border town Tachileik, crossing the border illegally and dodging the mandatory quarantine period. Some travelled to other provinces like Bangkok and Chiang Mai before testing positive. The cases are linked to at least 2 local transmissions.

In an unrelated spread of Covid-19, 6 health care workers tested positive for the virus. Health officials suspect a nurse working at an alternative state quarantine facility was not wearing her protective gear properly came in contact with the virus while taking the temperatures of an infected family. Health officials say they believe the nurse then transmitted the virus to her co-workers while she was out to eat after work.

PM Prayut Chan-o-cha insists the local infections are not a “second wave” of the coronavirus, saying health officials have contained the virus.

While optimistic that Thai health authorities have contained the virus, Anusorn, who is the former dean at Rangsit University’s Faculty of Economics, says the new cases might discourage people from travelling and going out to big events during the end of the year holiday.

SOURCE: Nation Thailand