Update Coronavirus (23): Doctor says 'stay home or we will get Italian states in Thailand'

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Thailand's health ministry announced today that another 3 people have died from the coronavirus, bringing the number of registered deaths to 4. 106 new infections have been reported, bringing the total number of infections in Thailand to 827. confirmed cases is down from the 122 recorded on Monday.

“Stay home and maintain social distancing! Or Thailand will go in the same direction as Italy with patients who rely heavily on health facilities and medical staff who have to decide who to treat and who not to treat,” said Dr. Prasit Watana of Siriraj Hospital. He says that the number of patients in Thailand is taking a huge leap. Prasit blames the increase on people visiting places where the virus is spread, such as boxing stadiums and pubs, and refusing to self-isolate. “If we do not take strict measures now, we will become a country unable to control the disease. With all its consequences.""

Dr. Ministry of Health spokesman Taweesin Wisanuyothin is asking everyone to keep a distance of 1-2 meters to keep the disease under control.

Dr. Walailak Chaifu, epidemiology director of the disease control department, said Covid-19 has now spread to 47 provinces, with Bangkok - especially the boxing stadiums - as the epicenter. The ratio of male to female patients was 2:1. The transmission rate of the virus is estimated at 1:3 in Bangkok – each infected person infects three others – while the rate in other provinces is estimated at 1:2, which is equivalent to the average global transmission rate.

The cabinet will meet later today to discuss additional measures against the pandemic.

Other news about the Coronavirus

• Airports of Thailand, the manager of six major airports, has been hit hard by many airlines canceling their flights. Since January 24, 32.991 flights have been cancelled, of which 26.648 are international flights.
• Singapore Airlines (SLA) announced on Monday that it will reduce capacity by 96 percent as demand for air travel has plummeted due to travel restrictions. Of the fleet of 147 aircraft, 138 are grounded.
• Like Thai AirAsia, Bangkok Airways, Thai Lion Air and Vietjet, THAI Smile has canceled all international flights effective Monday. Domestic flights will continue. Passengers with a ticket for an international flight will be refunded the ticket price.
• The number of tourists arriving in Thailand in February fell by 42,78 percent compared to the same period last year, the tourism ministry announced. The number of Chinese, Thailand's largest tourist market, fell by almost 85 percent. Tourism is an important source of Thailand's economic growth, accounting for 11 percent of GDP (gross domestic product) last year. The total tourism industry is estimated at 20 percent of GDP.
• The Department of Disease Control is urging Thais who have been to 24 locations in seven provinces to report and self-quarantine for 14 days. These are entertainment venues in Khon Kaen and Ubon Ratchathani, boxing stadiums in Lumpini and Ratchadamnoen (BKK), bus stations in Songkhla, a cockfighting arena in Nakhon Ratchasima, an examination hall in Nonthaburi and a temple in Surin that has held funeral and initiation rites.
• Bangkok Governor Aswin Khwanmuang yesterday asked residents not to leave the city because of the spread of the corona virus. He asks residents to self-isolate, go to the hospital as soon as you have symptoms of the virus. He also asked public transport to limit the number of passengers.
• Trading on the Thai stock exchange was halted for 25 minutes on Monday afternoon after the SET plunged 8 percent (90.19 points to 1.037,05 points) and the circuit breaker intervened. It was the sixth time in the stock market's history and the third time this year that trading was halted due to extremely large price fluctuations.