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Looking back at the onset of the COVID-19 crisis in Thailand, no one anticipated that the country would take just two months to drop from being the second highest risk country for COVID-19 in the world to 59th place, effectively managing the situation as it stands today.

Today, Thailand is among the countries with the lowest COVID-19 risk globally and has received recognition and praise from various nations for its effective management of the COVID-19 crisis.

How did Thailand manage this crisis? Before discussing that, let’s revisit the key events during the COVID-19 crisis in Thailand.

January 2020 Thailand welcomed 1,030,148 Chinese tourists. Shortly after, Thailand became the first country (excluding China) to report a COVID-19 case and had the second highest number of infections after China. The government elevated the emergency operations center to level 3 to prepare for this major outbreak.

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  • February 7 The Thai government began requiring health checks and a 14-day quarantine for all travelers entering Thailand.
  • February 12 Increased surveillance, especially in 8 provinces popular with tourists: Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Samut Prakan, Chonburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Krabi, and Phuket.
  • February 29 COVID-19 was declared a dangerous communicable disease, classified as the 14th in Thailand.
  • March 15 Thailand reported over 100 confirmed cases, drawing global attention once again.
  • March 16 The Thai New Year (Songkran) celebrations were postponed to prevent gatherings that could increase infection risks.
  • March 20#StayHomeStopTheSpread was a campaign encouraging all Thais to stay home to halt the spread of the virus.
  • March 22 The Prime Minister declared a nationwide state of emergency to control the COVID-19 outbreak.
  • April 3 The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand announced a temporary suspension of all incoming flights.
  • April 9 A nationwide ban on alcohol sales was announced to prevent gatherings that could increase infection risks.
  • April 11 New daily infections dropped below 50.
  • April 27 Thailand managed to control new infections to below 10 per day.

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As of the date this article was published (June 5, 2020), according to the World Health Organization, Thailand had approximately 3,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases since the first detection, with a total of 58 deaths.

From these figures, it is evident that Thailand has effectively managed the COVID-19 crisis, comparable to many other countries worldwide. However, we cannot deny that the COVID-19 crisis posed significant challenges to Thailand and everyone living in the country. In the following sections, we will discuss various factors that contributed to Thailand's effective handling of the COVID-19 crisis.

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The main factors that enabled Thailand to effectively manage the COVID-19 crisis can be summarized into three key points:

[1] Thai Culture – Both traditional and modern Thai culture played a significant role in managing the COVID-19 crisis.

[2] The Role of the Government – During the COVID-19 crisis, the Thai government decisively implemented various measures, such as suspending international flights and enforcing lockdown measures, collaborating with health experts from the Ministry of Public Health to manage the crisis effectively.

[3] Access to Consumer Goods and Services – Thailand has a strong private sector that played a crucial role in maintaining access to consumer goods and services during the COVID-19 crisis, keeping it close to normal levels, which effectively reduced the stress levels of people in Thailand compared to many countries that faced shortages of essential goods due to the COVID-19 crisis.

Let’s delve into the details of these three points and how they enabled Thailand to handle the COVID-19 crisis effectively.

Point 1: Thai Culture

[1] A Culture of Minimal Physical Contact – Thailand has the traditional greeting of the "wai," which does not involve physical contact. This cultural aspect helped reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. Although physical greetings like hugs and kisses have become more common among younger Thais, during the COVID-19 crisis, everyone collectively agreed to stop these greetings to minimize contact and reduce the risk of person-to-person transmission.

[2] Mask Usage – Wearing masks in public when feeling unwell has been a part of Thai social behavior. Therefore, it is not unusual to see Thais wearing masks when leaving home during the COVID-19 crisis. Initially, Thailand launched a campaign promoting mask-wearing in public when sick, emphasizing that “When you are unwell, you must protect those around you from your illness.” During the COVID-19 crisis, the campaign message was expanded to include “When you are unwell, you must protect those around you from your illness and protect yourself from the illnesses of others as well.”

[3] Social Unity – Compared to many countries, political differences in Thailand are relatively mild. Thais tend to follow politics based on individuals, as seen with the recruitment of popular politicians into various parties to strengthen their bases. Thus, Thai politics is not polarized but rather multi-faceted. Additionally, Thais are accustomed to military coups, which makes them less panicked and more compliant with government measures. During the COVID-19 crisis, most Thais temporarily set aside political issues and collaborated with the government to combat the crisis.

[4] Use of Social Media – In Bangkok, the number of Facebook users exceeds the population, making it common for Thais to receive news through social media like Facebook, which allows for rapid information dissemination. The social media culture in Thailand has influenced the response to the COVID-19 crisis in the following ways:

[a] Speed of Information Reception – The prevalence of smartphone usage among Thais has positively impacted awareness and dissemination of official news during the COVID-19 crisis. Even if many Thais do not have televisions, they can still receive news through their mobile phones, allowing them to stay informed and responsive to changes during the crisis.

[b] News Verification – Previously, many Thais shared information without verifying its credibility, leading to various negative consequences. However, over time, most Thais have begun to check the reliability of news on social media before sharing it. During the COVID-19 crisis, many Thai news outlets compiled information on “fake news” to help validate the credibility of news circulating on social media. This, combined with the behavior of verifying news, has led to a greater questioning of news credibility before sharing, facilitating smoother adherence to COVID-19 prevention measures.

[5] Belief in Almsgiving – Thais have a strong belief in helping others, which was reflected during the COVID-19 crisis through various organizations and community groups that initiated special projects to assist those affected, such as food donations through sharing boxes or organizing cleaning efforts for elderly homes lacking staff. These acts of kindness helped alleviate social tension and boost morale during the COVID-19 crisis.

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Point 2: The Role of the Thai Government

[1] Timely Implementation of Measures – Upon discovering the first COVID-19 case in Thailand in January, the Thai government immediately entered a surveillance phase. At that time, many governments were still debating the issue of COVID-19. Since then, the Thai government has swiftly implemented several measures to reduce and slow the risk of COVID-19 transmission. Although some Thais initially resisted these measures, once everyone understood the problem and the impact of the virus, they collectively agreed to cooperate with the measures to ensure a smooth response to the COVID-19 crisis.

[2] Public Health System – Thailand's public health system contrasts sharply with the perception of public health systems in developing countries. The public health system in Thailand is of high quality compared to neighboring Southeast Asian countries, attracting many people from various countries to seek medical services in Thailand. The country has leading medical professionals in both public and private sectors, significantly aiding in the response to the COVID-19 crisis. The Ministry of Public Health has been at the forefront of implementing various COVID-19 response measures based on scientific data and evidence, making the response effective compared to other countries.

[3] Village Health Volunteers – Village Health Volunteers (VHVs) are an organization that has not received much international attention. In the past, during the AIDS epidemic, VHVs played a crucial role in preventing the spread of the HIV virus, which causes AIDS. In the COVID-19 crisis, VHVs have also been instrumental in monitoring and preventing the spread of COVID-19 by checking every household in their villages and advising on appropriate behavior during the crisis, as well as establishing checkpoints within villages to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.

Point 3: Access to Consumer Goods and Services

[1] Strong Private Sector – Thailand has a diverse private sector that can quickly unite during crises. During COVID-19, we witnessed the private sector's prompt response to government policies, such as increasing the production of masks and hand sanitizers, enforcing social distancing in supermarkets and stores, and increasing personnel for food delivery services, which helped prevent and slow the spread of COVID-19 while providing convenience for people staying at home.

[2] Public Utilities – During the COVID-19 crisis, the efficiency of Thailand's public utilities was maintained at normal levels, preventing shortages of water and electricity, which helped reduce stress compared to many other countries, facilitating a more effective management of the COVID-19 virus.

[3] Digital Society – During the COVID-19 crisis, as everyone had to stay home, most Thais turned to digital services via mobile phones and computers, allowing them to live at home during lockdown while still being able to shop and pay as they would normally. This reduction in outdoor activities also decreased the risk of infection and the spread of COVID-19.

[4] Food Supply System – A crucial factor for survival is the food supply system. During the COVID-19 crisis, the Thai government implemented measures to support businesses involved in food supply and production, ensuring that Thais did not have to worry about food shortages throughout the lockdown period.

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Quality of Life for Foreigners in Thailand

In this article, we discussed various factors contributing to Thailand's effective management of the COVID-19 crisis, which is considered more efficient than in many other countries. Additionally, apart from being praised by many countries for its COVID-19 management, most foreigners view Thailand as a very livable country for various reasons, such as:

[1] Affordable Housing and Services – The rent for a luxurious two-bedroom condo in a prime location in Thailand is around 50,000 baht per month.

[2] Variety of Services – Not only are costs in Thailand lower than in many countries, but there is also a wide variety of services available, such as international restaurants at various price levels and shops catering to people of all nationalities.

[3] International Schools – Thailand is home to numerous international schools across the country, offering education from kindergarten to university levels, with curricula that meet international standards and are globally recognized.

[4] Safety – Thailand has a relatively low crime rate compared to its neighbors, with a safety index ranking third and a crime rate ranking seventh among 11 Southeast Asian countries.

[5] Hospitality – The Thai people are known for their caring nature. In the eyes of foreigners, Thais are famous for their willingness to help others.

[6] Medical Services – Thailand is renowned for its medical services, especially in private hospitals, which offer modern equipment and excellent service, attracting foreigners to seek medical care in Thailand.

[7] Acceptance of All Groups – One notable aspect of Thailand is its openness and acceptance of people from diverse backgrounds, such as its reputation for being a welcoming country for the LGBTQ community.

This article highlights Thailand's success in managing the COVID-19 crisis, achieved through the cooperation of all parties and the Thai people, making Thailand a renowned destination for visitors and residents alike, and establishing it as a safe haven for everyone.

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