CCSA spokesman apologises over case of infected Egyptian soldier, reports full timeline

[webfact]

CCSA spokesman apologises over case of infected Egyptian soldier, reports full timeline

By The Nation

 

 

With the case of an infected Egyptian soldier in Rayong causing consternation and criticism, Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin, the spokesman of the government’s Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), apologised today (July 14) for the “flaw” and “mistake” regarding who should be quarantined, as he reported the full timeline of the case:

 

A group of 31 Egyptian military personnel travelled on two C-130 air force planes – flights EGY1215 and EGY1216 – to Thailand. They first flew from Egpyt to the United Arab Emirates on July 6 and left the UAE for Pakistan on July 7. They arrived at Thailand's U-Tapao Airport at 7pm on July 8 and checked into Rayong’s DVaree hotel at 11pm that day.

 

On July 9, they headed out at 5.30am to U-Tapao Airport to fly to Chengdu, China, on an unspecified mission.

 

On July 10, the group returned to U-Tapao at 2am and headed straight back to their hotel – DVaree. Later that morning, at 11.20am, they split up into two groups, each going to a department store.

 

The infected soldier was among 27 of one group who visited Laem Thong department store from 11am to 2.59pm. The other four meanwhile took a taxi to Rayong Central Plaza, entering the plaza at 2pm and exiting at 6pm.

 

None of the 31 left their hotel that night as they had a mission early the next morning and departed the country.

 

CCTV footage at DVaree hotel showed only three of the 31 Egyptians wore a mask when going out, though all of them carried masks. The infected soldier was one of the three wearing a mask.

 

The 31 were allowed to enter the country without undergoing quarantine as they were operations staff of military vehicles/planes that needed refuelling and a short stay in Thailand. However, the Egyptian Embassy failed to immediately notify the CCSA or health officials in Rayong and instead contacted DVaree hotel directly for rooms for the group. Local health officers finally turned up at the hotel on July 10 to test the Egyptian personnel for Covid-19.

 

The group at first rejected any testing, but after their embassy intervened they finally agreed to a swab test. Thirty of them were subsequently confirmed as negative, but the result of the test on one soldier was not clear.

 

On July 11, all 31 personnel left their hotel and departed Thailand.

 

It was on July 12 that the test result confirmed the soldier was infected with Covid-19, but by that time he had already left the country with his group.

 

The Thai Chana platform has now alerted 392 of 394 people who visited the Laem Thong department store at the time the infected Egyptian soldier was there. The remaining two could not be contacted because they provided wrong phone numbers or deliberately gave fake numbers.

 

Meanwhile, 18 others who came into close contact with the infected soldier have been alerted. They consist of a high-risk close-contact group of nine people (seven DVaree hotel staff and two airport bus drivers) and a low-risk close-contact group of nine others, who are Communicable Disease Control Unit and Immigration officers.

 

Dr Taweesin apologised for the “flaws” in relaxing quarantine for people entering the country and vowed to “correct the mistake”. The CCSA is now reconsidering the relaxation measure for foreigners who enter Thailand.

 

He said this was not a VIP case but an “ordinary exception” for the Egyptian military personnel who needed refuelling and a short stay. However, while others who entered the country normally came through Suvarnabhumi Airport and stayed in Novotel hotel, the Egyptian military personnel used U-Tapao Airport, which was not prepared, he said. The CCSA will now make sure that every airport is fully prepared, he added.

 

Dr Taweesin asked Rayong residents who did not visit the Laem Thong department store or DVaree hotel not to panic. If no domestic case is found during this 14-day period, Rayong will be declared a safe area again, he said.

 

Everyone is keeping their fingers crossed.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30391292

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-07-14

 

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[whiteman]

amazing Thailand

[HaoleBoy]

However, while others who entered the country normally came through Suvarnabhumi Airport and stayed in Novotel hotel, the Egyptian military personnel used U-Tapao Airport, which was not prepared, he said. The CCSA will now make sure that every airport is fully prepared

 

A country this size should just limit ALL aircraft to enter via Suvarabhumi Airport or military aircraft through Don Mueang Airport only.

Edited July 14, 2020 by HaoleBoy

[ThailandRyan]

Safe and Amazing Thailand......

????

[SooKee]

More loopholes than a very worn and tatty string vest here!

Edited July 14, 2020 by SooKee

[bluesofa]

Just now, webfact said:

None of the 31 left their hotel that night as they had a mission early the next morning and departed the country.

Now I'll have to make another cup of tea after I spilt that one everywhere!

[Brunolem]

Thailand must call for a special meeting of the UN Security Council, to deal with this blatant act of terrorism and sanction Egypt accordingly!

[chrisinth]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

The infected soldier was among 27 of one group who visited Laem Thong department store from 11am to 2.59pm. The other four meanwhile took a taxi to Rayong Central Plaza, entering the plaza at 2pm and exiting at 6pm.

 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

The Thai Chana platform has now alerted 392 of 394 people who visited the Laem Thong department store at the time the infected Egyptian soldier was there. The remaining two could not be contacted because they provided wrong phone numbers or deliberately gave fake numbers.

So, that is great news that the Thai Chana is so successful at Laem Thong (and that only two people out of 394 had not mastered the app).

 

How many people were alerted at Central Plaza who were there during the four hour period when the remaining 4 members of the group were there? In fact, roughly how many people would be at the Plaza during that time scale? 

 

Maybe it's just me but when I see/hear a breakdown report that omits pretty important information relevant to what has happened, it makes me think.......................................

 

And still they haven't (again omitted) the details of who (military/governmental side) was delegated to liaise with them throughout their stay.

Edited July 14, 2020 by chrisinth

[DrTuner]

Did anybody get a beep from their thaichana thing?

 

If this is the extent of the tracing capabilities..

[treetops]

18 minutes ago, chrisinth said:

How many people were alerted at Central Plaza who were there during the four hour period when the remaining 4 members of the group were there? In fact, roughly how many people would be at the Plaza during that time scale? 

 

Maybe it's just me but when I see/hear a breakdown report that omits pretty important information relevant to what has happened, it makes me think........

The four guys who visited there tested negative after the visit, so no need to trace anyone?

Edited July 14, 2020 by treetops

[chrisinth]

2 minutes ago, treetops said:

The four guys who visited there tested negative after the visit, so no need to trace anyone?

I'm probably thinking too far into it, but the results of testing (Thai side) would be a point of concern regardless of outcome. Basing this on the 23 Burmese testing negative Thai side but positive on the Burmese side.

 

The very fact that these people were exempt from quarantine (14 days) through one of the 11 categories stated but could still mingle with the locals shows huge holes in their procedures. Besides, tracking and testing would be a good exercise for them prior to opening up to tourism.

 

Just my thoughts.

[treetops]

1 minute ago, chrisinth said:

The very fact that these people were exempt from quarantine (14 days) through one of the 11 categories stated but could still mingle with the locals shows huge holes in their procedures. Besides, tracking and testing would be a good exercise for them prior to opening up to tourism.

I certainly won't disagree with that.

[Admiral Hornblower]

"The 31 were allowed to enter the country without undergoing quarantine as they were operations staff of military vehicles/planes that needed refuelling and a short stay in Thailand."
 

How long will it take governments and people learn that this virus respects no-one. No matter who you are or how "Hi-So" you are, we are all vulnerable. So, government, your rules that have, seemingly, kept so many safe MUST apply to ALL no matter who they think they might be! Am I talking about Thailand? Yes - on the whole they seem to have coping well whereas my home country has really screwed up and continues to do so with continuous bickering and dithering.

Edited July 14, 2020 by Admiral Hornblower

[annabel]

9 hours ago, treetops said:

I certainly won't disagree with that.

A group of 31 Egyptian military personnel travelled on two C-130 air force planes – flights EGY1215 and EGY1216 – to Thailand. They first flew from Egpyt to the United Arab Emirates on July 6 and left the UAE for Pakistan on July 7. They arrived at Thailand's U-Tapao Airport at 7pm on July 8 and checked into Rayong’s DVaree hotel at 11pm that day.

On July 9, they headed out at 5.30am to U-Tapao Airport to fly to Chengdu, China, on an unspecified mission.

they were operations staff of military vehicles/planes that needed refuelling and a short stay in Thailand.

It all sounds very STRANGE and FISHY to me. What kind of refueling ? If they are referring to the 2 planes wouldn't need to stay in Thailand from July 8th to 11th, no? Guess these poor guys needed refueling also after a brief stop over in UAE and then Pakistan....?? Strange short stop overs? And why did they not stay in China rather than coming back to Thailand on the same day and fly back to Egypt from there? So what could this UNSPECIFIED MISSION quick mission into China could this possibly be...?? Very, very weird....!

[klauskunkel]

18 hours ago, webfact said:

Dr Taweesin apologised for the “flaws” in relaxing quarantine for people entering the country and vowed to “correct the mistake”.

A vow. Haven't heard that in a while... Chalerm vowed a lot. 

Well, to really "correct the mistake" you will have to reimburse all the people in self-quarantine their loss of income, as well as all the businesses and institutions who had to shut down because of this.

Let's hear you vow now.

[hotchilli]

18 hours ago, webfact said:

On July 10, the group returned to U-Tapao at 2am and headed straight back to their hotel – DVaree. Later that morning, at 11.20am, they split up into two groups, each going to a department store.

Monumental mistake.

[Grumpy John]

Relax folks,  it's all under control...for this week.  Next week...Iam not so sure but you should expect the unexpected just to be on the safe side.  ????

[Dionigi]

Part day in UAE, Part day in Pakistan, Part day in Thailand, Part day in China, part day back in Thailand, sounds like a drugs run or something else fishy going off.

[NanLaew]

The C-130 isn't a long-range airliner. Normal refueling stops on route to pick up Chinese-made PPE for medical staff fighting Covid-19 in Egyptian hospitals?

 

Meh... Too simple.