Anutin threat to ban free treatment for lawbreakers

Anutin threat to ban free treatment for lawbreakers

Infected criminals ‘putting strain on medical system’

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Saturday threatened to cease free medical treatment for Covid-19 infected people who break the law and expose the public to infection risks.

The minister floated the idea on his Facebook page as the country’s total Covid-19 cases rose to 10,053 yesterday. Thailand has managed to keep infection rates relatively low since the initial outbreak early last year.

While a large number of cases were migrant workers in Samut Sakhon, many were linked to illegal gambling dens and smuggling of Thais across the border.

Mr Anutin said public health officials at a meeting on Saturday raised…