BANGKOK, Jan 24 (TNA) – The Thai Ministry of Public
Health has assured the public that it has undertaken effective measures to
monitor and prevent the new coronavirus.
Thailand participated in the meeting on the virus convened
by the Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) via
teleconference on Thursday. Thai
representatives updated the committee on the situation in the country where
four coronavirus patients have been reported.
Commenting on the issue during a press conference on alcohol
control and policy with WHO officials on Friday, Deputy Public Health Minister
Sathit Pitutecha said Thailand was ready to follow the WHO advice and would
fully cooperate if a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)
was declared.
In the meeting, the Committee concluded that the event did
not constitute a PHEIC, but the members agreed on the urgency of the situation.
Since the outbreak was reported, Thailand has introduced
health quarantine measures and detected the first coronavirus-infected outside
China last week.
Sathit gave an assurance to the Thai public of the
Ministry’s procedures to handle the situation.
Although there have been increased numbers of cases, Sathit
urged Thai people not to panic and wait until the WHO had further advice.
The Ministry would give a clear action plan once a PHEIC was
announced, he said.(TNA)
