BANGKOK, Jan 28 (TNA) – Thai Prime Minister Prayut
Chan-o-cha has assured the public that the novel coronavirus situation in
Thailand is completely under control as the number of infected patients in the
kingdom rose to 14.
Prayut said in a televised national address Monday evening
that the government by the Ministry of Public Health had stepped up measures in
prompt response to the situation.
He highlighted the conformity of surveillance and quarantine
operations carried out by related agencies.
The premier said evacuation of Thai citizens from Chinese
cities had been planned and could go ahead once the Chinese government allowed.
Prayut also said he felt worried about fake news and
misleading posts on social media, urging Thai people to be more careful about
sharing news contents and seek verified facts from the Ministry of Public
Health.
A hotline by the Department of Disease Control was available
round the clock, he added.
The Ministry of Public Health on Tuesday announced more
confirmed coronavirus cases in the country bringing the number to 14 and
rejected all other reported cases.
Dr. Sukhum Kanchanapimai, the Ministry’s Permanent
Secretary, said in a media briefing that 13 of them were Chinese tourists and
the other was Thai national who just visited Wuhan, the epicenter of the
outbreak.
Five of the patients, including the first
coronavirus-infected outside China, have been recovered after receiving
treatments in Thailand, according to the Ministry.
Thailand had effective disease control mechanisms manned by
thousands of medical personnel, Dr. Sukhum said, urging Thai people not to
panic.
The Department of Disease Control could not confirm a report
that an HIV drug was a potential coronavirus treatment, said its deputy
director Dr. Thanarak Palipat.
Meanwhile, Bangkok
authorities have asked hotels and other accommodation services for Chinese
tourists to post public announcement in Chinese containing health instructions.
(TNA)
