After an academic study made a hypothesis that animal markets, particularly Thailand’s Chatuchak Weekend Market, were the source of COVID-19, the acting Director of the Emergency Disease and Health Hazards Control Division, under the Department of Disease Control, Dr. Chawetsan Namwat, released a statement dismissing the claim. He said it is only a hypothesis made by an academic, and there is no evidence to support it.
According to the assumption, if the original transmission source was not from China, it could be from a nearby country. Although Thailand does not share a border with China, both countries conduct trade with each other. Therefore, it could be possible that the virus was brought from Thailand to China.
Studies show that there was no evidence of transmission from animals to humans in Thailand, and it is not possible that the virus spread from Thailand to Wuhan, China.
The first COVID-19 outbreak in Thailand was reported in tourist destinations, boxing stadiums and entertainment venues. There is no evidence to suggest that Chatuchak Weekend Market was the original transmission source.
24 Feb 2021
