Opinion of the traveler from overseas toward State Quarantine service of Urban Institute for Disease Prevention and Control on preventing the spread of the Coronavirus 2019 infection

Abstract

The COVID-19 outbreak has spread around the world. International travel is one of the ways that quickly spreads the infection from one area to another.  To reduce the import of such pathogens from abroad, Thai government has established State Quarantine (SQ) integrated detention facilities, security, control and prevention, medical care, and environmental management.  This study aimed to explore the experiences of overseas travelers at the state quarantine services in Bangkok and to assess the results to improve SQ in line with the needs of the service. Data was collected via online questionnaire which were accessed by the respondents using a QR code scan on April 17, 2020. Out of a total of 384 persons staying in SQ (229 persons registered during 3-5 April 2020; and 155 persons registered during 6-13 April 2020), 205 responded to the online questionnaire.

Overall, more than 80% of the respondents deemed all service as necessary and appropriate. One-fifth of them had concerns regarding specimen collection from their postnasal cavity. Most of the respondents reported having a low level of stress and anxiety (58.1%), while 2.4% developed high stress and anxiety. Most of the stress and anxiety was found to be due to a fear of contracting covid-19 infection, worrying about their family, income, social stigmatization, and depression. When compared, the group of travelers who were in SQ in a later period reported with lesser anxiety and believed all the quarantine procedures were appropriate and necessary than the group of travelers in SQ in the first period. The recommendations for improving the service at SQ included being provided with clear instructions from the staff at every step, and a provision for a variety of nutritious foods, including halal foods.