Analysis of the process of solving 5 issues according to the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA): 1st COVID-19 epidemic wave in Thailand

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 started in Wuhan, China at the end of December 2019 and has spread all over the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus disease 2019 a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) that urge all countries around the world actively prepare the responses to deal with the threats. Thailand cope with this emergency by setting up the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA). This study aimed to analyze the process of resolving problems in complied with the CCSA’s policies in 5 subject matters as follows: 1) the entry into and departure from the Kingdom; 2) the entry of migrant workers of 3 nationalities (Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia) in the agricultural sector to the Kingdom; 3) the opening of tourism pilot areas in Phuket and Koh Samui district, Surat Thani Province (Phuket & Samui Models); 4) immediate response in case of non-compliance with the CCSA order regarding the entry of Egyptian soldiers and the Sudanese charge d' affaires family into the Kingdom; and 5) immediate response in case of the US Army Commander visit Thailand. Documents related to the policy implementation of the CCSA including meeting minutes and performance reports were analyzed by content analysis, then key contents were arranged into the same group, linking by cause-effect relationship. Data collection tools was a data record form developed by the researcher to identify the contents according to the given issues and to collect the meaningful data. The results showed that the problems can be solved effectively to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak in the country. Regarding the matter of entry into and departure from the Kingdom, the disease prevention measures were established to cope with the COVID - 19 outbreak as an annexed to the CCSA order. These measures are guidelines for various types of persons enter into the Kingdom including bringing migrant workers into the country, opening of tourism pilot areas and solving problems regarding the enter into the Kingdom as well as problems that required promptly action. Recommendations highlights the importance of policy communication and policy implementation process which requires the body of Provincial Communicable Disease Committee for implementing the policies at the local level, keep up with the situation, and gain maximum benefit.