Nearly 3.000 inmates in Bangkok's two main prisons, Bangkok Remand Prison and Central Women's Correctional Institution, have been infected with Covid-19.
Director-General of Corrections Aryut Sinthoppan announced that there are 2.835 infections among detainees. This announcement follows after democracy activist Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul announced on Facebook that he had contracted the virus in prison. According to her, many prisoners have contracted a corona infection.
Panusaya was released on May 6 after serving 59 days in the Central Women's Correctional Institution.
Aryut says most of them are being treated in the field hospitals set up outside the two prisons or at the Corrections Hospital, he said, while those in more serious condition have been admitted to outside hospitals.
New inmates are quarantined for at least 21 days and must have two negative tests before being moved to the usual wing, he said. Aryut says he considers the number of infected detainees small compared to the number of infections nationwide. As soon as sufficient vaccines are available, staff and detainees will be vaccinated.
As of May 5, there were 3.238 inmates at Bangkok Remand Prison and 4.518 at the Central Women's Correctional Institution, according to the Corrections Department. The prison studies.org website reports that as of April 1 this year, there are 307.910 people incarcerated in Thai prisons, including prisoners on remand.
Source: Bangkok Post
About this blogger
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Known as Khun Peter (62), lives alternately in Apeldoorn and Pattaya. In a relationship with Kanchana for 14 years. Not yet retired, have my own company, something with insurance. Crazy about animals, especially dogs and music.
Enough hobbies, but unfortunately little time: writing for Thailandblog, fitness, health and nutrition, shooting sports, chatting with friends and some other oddities.
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I think it's a bloody shame how the prisoners are treated in Thailand. Judging by the photo, most likely a true picture, prisoners here are treated even less than like animals.
I think Thailand is a beautiful country, but I realize more and more than many Thai people are just selfish and don't give a shit about others.
Example? Recently, someone in Chiang Mai jumped from what is believed to be the 4th floor in an attempt to kill herself, or at least to draw attention to her plight. A reaction in Thailand was: let them do that in silence.
Another example: A farang in Chiang Mai, suffering from HIV, has died. That was reason for a Thai to be very happy about it. Cleaned up a farang that was also HIV infected.
I feel morally obligated to go back to Chiang Mai again, and I will gladly do so, but after that I will look for another destination. My love for Thai has cooled down considerably.
You will find this kind of reaction everywhere, even with us there are many similar reactions that show little respect.
The internet has of course meant that the opinion of the biggest nozems can now also be read.
We were once allowed to watch a documentary about the prisons via the Flemish Club Pattaya and there they showed a very realistic picture of prison life. It was of course no fun, but also not that hell as it is sometimes presented. Prisoners had a certain freedom within the walls. They could also go to shops and activities were provided for them. But prisons are nowhere really the place to be.
How many of them have already died?
I don't think we will know everything about Thailand yet.
blood shame??
In the West, the situation in prisons was the same 70 years ago. Currently, it is no longer a punishment to be detained in the Netherlands.
Moreover, people, including farang, know what awaits in the Thai prison.
And the Thai government does not keep the images secret either. One can see what awaits you in prison.
When you are also packed together, it is not inconceivable that the Covid-19 infection is quickly contracted.
Think of a few other locations in this country where many people gather at the same time, and you can pretty well predict where the next outbreak of the virus will take place.