Effects of public health interventions on the epidemiological spread during the first wave of the COVID-19 outbreak in Thailand

PLoS One. 2021 Feb 19;16(2):e0246274. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0246274. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

A novel infectious respiratory disease was recognized in Wuhan (Hubei Province, China) in December 2019. In February 2020, the disease was named "coronavirus disease 2019" (COVID-19). COVID-19 became a pandemic in March 2020, and, since then, different countries have implemented a broad spectrum of policies. Thailand is considered to be among the top countries in handling its first wave of the outbreak-12 January to 31 July 2020. Here, we illustrate how Thailand tackled the COVID-19 outbreak, particularly the effects of public health interventions on the epidemiological spread. This study shows how the available data from the outbreak can be analyzed and visualized to quantify the severity of the outbreak, the effectiveness of the interventions, and the level of risk of allowed activities during an easing of a "lockdown." This study shows how a well-organized governmental apparatus can overcome the havoc caused by a pandemic.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19* / epidemiology
  • COVID-19* / prevention & control
  • COVID-19* / transmission
  • Communicable Disease Control*
  • Humans
  • Pandemics
  • Public Health*
  • SARS-CoV-2*
  • Thailand / epidemiology

Grants and funding

This study was supported by The National Research Council of Thailand and the Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Chulalongkorn University and Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand. TrueEye Company Limited provided support in the form of salaries for authors Ms. Thunchanok Thammasany, but did not have any additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The specific roles of this author are articulated in the “author contributions” section.