Survey shows Thais relaxed about virus risk

Tourists enjoy the Dream World amusement park in Pathum Thani province. (Photo: Apichit Jinakul)
Tourists enjoy the Dream World amusement park in Pathum Thani province. (Photo: Apichit Jinakul)

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Monday warned there was still a risk of new Covid-19 infections.

The warning came despite the fact that Thailand on Monday recorded its 42nd consecutive day in which there have been no new local transmissions.

More than 3,000 illegal migrant workers had been detained while attempting to sneak into Thailand over the past month, said CCSA spokesman Taweesilp Visanuyothin, citing a report supplied by security authorities.

Many of them had been caught and detained by the Immigration Bureau, including some who had made their way into the inner provinces, while some had been sent back to their own countries, he added.

"So, while travelling during this long holiday, it is very important for everyone to never down let his or her guard [against Covid-19] as more of those who illegally entered the country may be around you," said Dr Taweesilp.

He also responded to findings from a new survey conducted by Suan Dusit Poll, which showed that two-thirds of people were feeling relaxed about the Covid-19 situation.

He said that was worrying and everyone was still being urged to wear face masks, wash their hands frequently and maintain social distancing until an effective vaccine was found.

As for the government's programme to allow in foreign patients seeking treatment for non-Covid-19 conditions, he said a total of 1,169 such people from 34 countries and 1,521 accompanying friends and family had registered to visit Thailand for such a reason over the next three months.

All of those people would be required to prove that they had tested negative for Covid-19 within 72 hours of leaving their countries, plus undergo a mandatory Covid-19 screening test at the airport upon arriving in Thailand to confirm they were still free of the virus and stay in hospital for at least 14 days before leaving, he said.

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Vocabulary

  • citing: mentioning as a reason - ให้ อ้างอิงเหตุผล
  • consecutive: following one after another in order and with nothing else in between - ที่ต่อเนื่องตามลำดับ
  • despite (prep): used to show that something happened or is true although something else might have happened to prevent it; used to show that somebody did not intend to do the thing mentioned - ถึงอย่างไรก็ตาม, ทั้ง ๆ ที่
  • detained: kept in a place and not allowed to leave - กักตัว ควบคุมตัวหรือฝากขัง
  • guard (noun): the state of being very careful and prepared for something difficult or dangerous -
  • Immigration Bureau: the government agency dealing with people entering and leaving the country and those who want to live there - สำนักงานตรวจคนเข้าเมือง
  • migrant worker: someone who travels to another place or country in order to find work - คนงานต่างถิ่น
  • patient: someone who is receiving medical treatment - คนป่วย, คนไข้
  • relaxed: calm and not worried - อย่างผ่อนคลาย, ซึ่งรู้สึกสบาย
  • sneak (verb): (past: snuck) to go somewhere secretly, trying to avoid being seen - เดินหลบ,เดินลับ ๆ ล่อ ๆ
  • survey: to ask a large number of people questions to find out their opinions - สำรวจ
  • test negative: to show no signs of being infected by a particular virus, bacteria, etc. -
  • transmission: the spread of a disease from one person or animal to another - การแพร่เชื้อ
  • urge: to advise someone very strongly about what action or attitude they should take - ผลักดัน, กระตุ้น

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