A big Covid blunder

A big Covid blunder

It's not just the possibility of a second wave of infection that is looming for the government but arguably a more formidable crisis of confidence.

Lapses in the government's Covid-19 screening process that led to an Egyptian soldier and a nine-year-old girl -- both found to have been infected -- being allowed out in public deserve a serious reprimand and review.

Mistakes must lie somewhere. Whether they are procedural or involve human error, the missteps must be quickly identified and corrected.

If any personnel are found to have erred in their duties, they must be dealt with strictly.

The problems could have ended there. Unfortunately, they did not.

In the face of the blunders, the government and its main pandemic-fighting vehicle, the Centre for the Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), faltered.

The authorities fell into disarray as soon as they were hit with the bad news that appears to have stemmed from shortcomings on their part.

Instead of clarifying the incidents and giving people clear warnings, the CCSA glossed over the slips.

The centre failed to disclose all track-and-trace information.

It did not seem to try to take anybody or any agencies into account.

It did not even identify where the loopholes could be in the handling of the two cases even though one had been confirmed last Friday.

It's no surprise the CCSA's lacklustre response unleashed an uproar. The centre must not forget that Thai people have paid a steep price to suppress the outbreak.

To attain zero local community transmission, people had to endure a month-long lockdown that caused the country's GDP to shrink by 8% while prompting more than eight million people to lose their job.

But all the hardship and misery may have gone to waste because of privileges that the authorities apparently extended to foreign military personnel and members of the diplomatic corps.

Worse, no-one seems to have taken responsibility.

The public at least needs to hear a full account of who let the group of Egyptian soldiers in.

Why were they prioritised for the visit without having to go through 14-day quarantine?

How could the nine-year-old girl be allowed to get out of the airport when she had tested positive for the virus?

What they have heard so far, however, have been attempts to shift the blame.

The army said it had nothing to do with the Egyptian group.

The Air Force pointed to the Foreign Ministry while other authorities said it must be local public health personnel or even the hotel's fault for failing to ensure that the Egyptian soldier stays in self-isolation.

Following public outrage, the CCSA tried to redeem itself yesterday by saying it regretted the errors and that it is solely responsible for them.

The centre clearly identified where the shortfalls occurred in the screening procedure and traced back to people who could be at risk of exposure to the virus.

It cancelled all incoming flights from Egypt. It also proposed a review of exemptions made to foreign travellers and diplomats.

The responses are definitely too late and likely too little. The government and CCSA must try harder to be more effective at the tasks entrusted to them and regain the public's confidence.

Editorial

Bangkok Post editorial column

These editorials represent Bangkok Post thoughts about current issues and situations.

Email : anchaleek@bangkokpost.co.th

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