Taweesin says end of lockdown in sight – if people stay home
People cooperating with self-isolation measures has resulted in an absence of new coronavirus cases in many provinces over the past two weeks, Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin, spokesman of the government's Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, said on Thursday (April 16).
Nine provinces have remained free of Covid-19 throughout the outbreak. They are Kamphaeng Phet, Chai Nat, Trat, Nan, Bueng Kan, Phichit, Ranong, Sing Buri, and Ang Thong.
Meanwhile, 25 provinces have recorded no new cases in the past 14 days (April 2-15). These are Chiang Rai, Maha Sarakham, Saraburi, Phetchaburi, Mukdahan, Sukhothai, Phetchabun, Yasothon, Nong Bua, Phrae, Roi Et, Amnat Charoen, Mae Hong Son, Ratchaburi, Udon Thani, Kanchanaburi, Lopburi, Uttaradit, Chanthaburi, Lamphun, Uthai Thani, Nakhon Nayok, Sisaket, Buriram and Samut Songkhram.
However, the case count has been rising in Nonthaburi, while Bangkok followed by Phuket have recorded the highest number of Covid-19 patients in the country.
Thailand’s Covid-19 crisis appears to be under control, with the curve of new infections flattening out over the past week to around 30 cases per day. However, Taweesin cited Japan, where weeks of low numbers of new infections have been followed by a sudden uptick with three-digit daily increases in recent weeks. He emphasised that people in Thailand should stick to their current good practices. If they did so, the government would consider easing restrictions on daily life and businesses by allowing shops and malls to reopen, though limits would be placed on customer numbers while wearing of masks and social distancing measures would still be mandatory.