> Commentary: Adopt the ‘new normal’ until vaccine is here

Partial lifting of travel curbs in Phuket last Friday resulted in heavy traffic as many people, several of whom were migrant workers, scrambled to checkpoints in their bid to get back to their home provinces. As pictures of vehicles queuing up bumper to bumper appeared in the media, netizens lambasted the exodus over fears a second wave of Covid-19 infections would hit this top tourist destination.

The coronavirus has battered Phuket from the beginning. It ranked second as the nation’s virus hotspot, after Bangkok, with 220 infection cases. The status placed heavy pressure on local authorities who resorted to harsh measures, including travel controls between tambons, as they struggled to bring the numbers down. Those measures seemed to pay off. During April 15 and 30, Phuket found 29 new confirmed cases from a so-called cluster infection, with approximately zero to three cases a day.

People also headed for spots such as Krabi. Upon reaching the adjacent province, several were rejected entry by Krabi authorities. Deputy governor of Krabi Somkuan Khan-ngern saw those coming from Phuket as a threat. He said they could transmit the virus and all the officials’ hard work could be ruined. The public is divided over his stance. On the one hand, a number of netizens lent him support. Others, however, criticised him strongly, with the result he was forced to retract his words. After a long wait, they can now enter the province.

Public frenzy over the coronavirus, and growing hatred among different groups of people appears to be a “new normal” in our society. No surprise.

In his daily press conference, Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) spokesman Taweesilp Visanuyothin has applied carrot and stick tactics.

He whipped the provinces where virus cases were found in droves, and lauded the provinces with clean records. As a result, provincial authorities have competed hard with one another. In doing so, they lost empathy as prejudice deepened against at-risk groups, while hysterical fears about the virus rose as the vaccine will not be available in months, if not years.

Before we knew it, a large part of Thai society was preoccupied with the number of infection cases, and were trying to cut the number back at all costs. But numbers can be manipulated and some agencies resorted to doing just that.

Previously, it was an open secret that some local authorities felt the need to press the incidence rates of seasonal diseases such as dengue and flu in their reports. In many cases, the number of reported cases was lower than the reality so they could be rated favourably, and escape pressure from the government.

It’s true the Covid-19 outbreak has brought some changes. If local health officials work efficiently and conduct so-called “active case finding,” the number of infection cases will be high but the practice will help authorities respond to the problem more relevantly — quick treatment will limit the spread.

But there are allegations that, in order to please the CCSA, some provinces are intentionally keeping the numbers low, by not conducting active case finding.

In fact, the number of cases in Phuket can be misleading, if not distorted. Take a look at the 220 infection cases which is equivalent to 53.22 cases per 100,000 population. This calculation is based on the number of 413,000 registered in the population.

In fact, it’s estimated more than a million non-registered people who live on the island. Counting them in, Phuket will have 15 infection cases per 100,000 population, and that rate is lower than many other provinces.

With such false numbers, provincial authorities have toughened the measures beyond necessity, excessively limiting people’s freedom, harshly disrupting their lives. It stigmatises Phuket people, with those travelling from the island finding the door slammed in their face.

The CCSA seems to want to press the number of infection cases to zero. I don’t agree with that target.

Such an ambitious and unrealistic target will require people to stay at home. That will mean enormous stress, not only for the people, but for the economy.

Face reality, doc. We can’t hit zero and we can’t achieve that any time soon until we have a vaccine. To get there, we have to live with Covid-19 for at least one more year. Don’t let the single-digit goal disrupt people’s lives. People’s mistrust will just grow.

Instead of solely focusing on the number, we must pay attention to a traceable quarantine system, encouraging people to adopt the acceptable “new normal” that includes mask wearing, and physical distancing.

After a while, people can have normal life, living with one another in harmony, without prejudice, while waiting for the vaccine.