Just yesterday (26 Feb), a couple in Singapore was served charges by the Ministry of Health (MOH) for giving false information regarding their whereabouts.
Turns out, other countries have also seen similar cases of citizens failing to cooperate with the authorities’ efforts to curb the spread of Covid-19.
On the same day, Thai news agency Bangkok Post published an article reporting that a Covid-19 patient in Thailand had concealed his travel history to Japan, putting 30 healthcare workers at risk of infection.
According to Bangkok Post, the elderly patient arrived at a medical facility in Bangkok’s Sai Mai district with a cough and fever on Sunday (23 Feb).
When probed initially, the man claimed he had no travel history overseas.
He was subsequently diagnosed with pneumonia and admitted to the hospital.
The man was questioned about his travel history again the next day, when a lung expert examined him.
Again, he denied having ever left the country.
Later that day, the man went against his previous statements and confessed that he had travelled abroad.
In particular, he reportedly travelled to Hokkaido with his family and returned to Thailand last Thursday (20 Feb).
For illustration purposes only
Source
He was immediately isolated and tested for Covid-19. That evening, tests confirmed that he was infected by the new coronavirus.
His 2 other family members also tested positive for the virus.
As a result of his irresponsible actions, 30 medical staff at the hospital who came into close contact with him are now at risk of being infected.
Thankfully, they tested negative for Covid-19, but have since been quarantined at home, presumably for precautionary purposes.
In light of this incident, Thai lawmakers have introduced a new regulation, requiring citizens who returned from “high-risk” countries to report to authorities should they develop symptoms.
Failing to do so may result in a fine, and/or imprisonment.
Thailand has reported 40 confirmed cases of Covid-19 cases, as of Wednesday (26 Feb).
This unfortunate incident goes to show the consequence of not being truthful about one’s travel history.
Thankfully, the medical staff who tended to him did not test positive for the virus.
Otherwise, the virus could have spread rampantly in the hospital, which houses vulnerable patients, potentially leading to catastrophic results.
Featured image adapted from Bangkok Post.
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