Top epidemiologist advises vaccination is not a cue to re-open borders

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A specialist in infectious diseases at Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Medicine in Bangkok says the arrival of vaccines does not mean that it is safe to re-open to foreign visitors. According to Thira Woratanarat, opening the borders too soon will only put Thailand at higher risk, suggesting a lack of data on the effectiveness of vaccines against transmission. 

Thira adds that the virus could still be spread by asymptomatic carriers and that the arrival of vaccines could lead people to lower their guard. The doctor insists that more studies are needed in asymptomatic cases, according to a Nation Thailand report, as there is not enough information yet.

Things are still not safe, so people should strictly follow preventive measures and monitor their health. If you have any symptoms, see the doctor immediately. 

When discussing Thailand's approach to managing the pandemic, Thira has routinely erred on the side of caution. He has spoken out regularly against lifting or reducing the mandatory quarantine period, opposed re-opening the borders, and called for a national 4-week lockdown as recently as last month.
 

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