Thailand marks 100 days without local COVID-19 case

ANKARA

Thailand has not recorded a locally transmitted coronavirus infection for 100 days in a row, authorities said on Wednesday.

According to the Health Ministry, eight more COVID-19 cases were detected over the past 24 hours, all of them people who recently traveled from overseas.

These included an American family of four that was in quarantine after arriving in the country on Aug. 19.

The new cases raised Thailand’s overall case count to 3,425, including 58 deaths and 3,274 recoveries.

With no community transmission since May 26, Thailand has become just the third country to mark 100 days without a local COVID-19 infection, joining Taiwan and New Zealand, according to Bloomberg News.

While Taiwan has managed to keep its months-long streak intact, local infections have resurfaced in New Zealand, exemplifying the risks countries face when safety restrictions are relaxed.

Thailand declared a state of emergency in March and closed its borders to foreigners, despite the consequent impact on the country’s vital tourism sector.

The government started easing some restrictions in May after daily cases declined in the Buddhist-majority country.

* Writing by Islamuddin Sajid