Thread by @FLAHAULT

1/7 -“A wave of new #COVID19 infections traced to migrant workers has ended Thailand’s solid run on containing the pandemic. The centre of the outbreak is Samut Sakhon province, a hub of the country’s $6bn seafood export industry in south-west of Bangkok.”
ft.com/content/7f98f0…

2/7 - “Now the outbreak is stirring debate about the corrupt practices that allowed the virus to resurface — and the role in the Thai economy of the more than 2.5m foreign migrants who do the kingdom’s toughest jobs, from laying pavements to peeling supermarket shrimp.”

3/7 - “Nearly all the new #COVID19 cases have been traced to migrants, some of whom entered the country illegally. Returning Thais and citizens of Myanmar have been slipping over the two countries’ long border without undergoing Thailand’s mandatory 14-day quarantine.”

4/7 - “After the 2nd #COVID19 wave began, some Thais initially vented their anger on Myanmar people, making violent and racist threats on social media. More recently, Thais’ critical focus has shifted to the police, gov. officials and others they blame for the spike in cases.”

5/7 - ““This has exposed the worst side of Thailand: an intersection of corruption, government incompetence and a lack of vision going forward at the expense of public health,” says Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a professor of political science at Chulalongkorn University.”

6/7 - “Thailand’s #COVID19 caseload remains vanishingly low compared with other countries of its size, thanks to a disciplined response by medical officials and the people. In a Thai context, however, the numbers are alarming: 11,000, with 67 deaths, since the pandemic began.”

7/7 - “Thai authorities traced recent infections to “superspreader” events in illegal gambling dens, including in Bangkok. Thais are now watching the #COVID19 case trend — and for signs action will be taken. [...] transparency and accountability are what [they] are looking for.”