A Case Study of the Impact of Covid-19 to Parents.

Abstract

The Ministry of Public Health of Thailand announced the coronavirus disease 2019, or "Covid-19 " as a dangerous communicable disease, effective on 1 March, 2020. Bangkok Metropolitan Administration ordered the closure of 26 types of public places such as shopping malls, markets, restaurants, fitness, massage, spas, boxing stadiums, parks, entertainment venues and educational institutions at all levels from March 22, 2020. Therefore, this study of the effects on the epidemic of the Covid-19 virus which had surveyed the parents of the children developmental center, Kids Plus, in Bangkok as the respondents. The data was collected between 25-27 April, 2020 which the Covid-19 virus epidemic situation had improved with the lower number of new infected cases. Basically, the Covid-19 has decreased the respondents’ household incomes while its has increases their household expenses. The74.05% of respondents felt the most to moderate stressful from the Covid-19 situation. To reduce the risk of infection with Covid-19 virus, the Work from Home (WFH) is widely adopted. About 66.75% of respondents rated their WFH’s performance at the highest to moderate effectiveness and efficiency. In addition, the parents have to take care their children at home which almost 75% of respondents felt exhausted, busy, and burdened at the highest to moderate level. The large number of parents (79.60%) are willing to wear mask, wash hands, and keep physical distance at the highest level. There were no one rated this willingness at the low to lowest level. Anyhow, the 53.65% of respondents would like the government allowing some public places (department stores, restaurants, barbers) to reopen on 3 May, 2020. But about 61.46% of respondents encouraged the schools’ reopening on 1 July, 2020 as the government’s announcement. Lastly, the largest number of respondents of 242, counted as 60.96% would like to stay at home, work at home and refrain from outside home activities such as shopping at malls, and eating at the restaurants for another year from now if there is no vaccine against the Covid-19 virus. Here, it can say that respondents are quite ready to adjust themselves to live with the Covid-19 virus as the new normal.