We Are All In The Same Boat

By THA SC

Bangkok, Thailand, 12 April 2020 -- Amidst the spread of Covid-19 in Thailand in which there is a continuous increase everyday of those affected by the virus, averaging between 50-100 persons, taken from the statistics of 11 April 2020, at present there are 2,473 persons positively affected, 33 deaths, and 1,013 cured.

The Thai Government has used various measures to contain the contamination, including 'staying at home', 'night curfew' from 22.00 - 04.00 hrs for thirty days until 30 April 2020, province-wide quarantine in some provinces. These have created other problems for the people, like, losing one's job, loss of income, loss of a place to stay, including the lack of sanitary face masks and alcohol for hand-washing. The Salesian confreres have helped some of these people. Confreres at the formation house in Sampran under the lead of Fr. Anthony Boonlert Paneetatthayasai, haves gathered forces to fill 1,000 alcohol bottles to distribute to the needy.

Fr. Nopphadon Joseph, the delegate for Youth Ministry, brought food to those out-of-work, distributed personal protective equipments [PPEs], sanitary face masks and alcohol to the town hospital of Sampran, to Baan Mai Health Promoting Hospital, Takharm Health Center, to help stop the spread of Covid-19. Aside from these, alcohol were also given to 50 immigrant mothers who brought their children for vaccine injection at the Sampran Health Center.

The Association of Past Pupils of Saeng Thong Vitthaya School moved around to give 500 'face shields' to Hatyai Hospital, Songkhla Hospital, Singhanakhon Hospital, Hatyai Rescue Team and to Hatyai Health Center.

The PDO [Planning & Development Office] of the Salesian Province of Thailand, together with the salesian past pupils and the faithful from Mary Help of Christians Church, gave food to the poor around the area and those out-of-work because of this Covid-19 pandemic.

In the midst of this Covid-19 viral pandemic, all of us are in the same boat according to the message of Pope Francis during the worldwide blessing "Urbi Et Orbi" on 27 March 2020: "Jesus Christ Stopped the Storm". The important thing is: "do not fear; trust in the Lord”.

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