NONTHABURI, Aug 14 (TNA) — About 69,000 Thai people who had been stranded in other countries already arrived in their homeland, according to the Foreign Ministry.
Cherdkiat Atthakor, spokesman of the ministry, said that since April about 69,000 Thai returnees had arrived back. On Aug 16, 50 others would arrive from India and over 100 more would do from Paris and the United States, he said.
Dr Somsak Akasilp, director-general of the Medical Services Department, said ten teams of 5-6 doctors and nurses joined the LINE chat groups of Thai consulates and Thai people in other countries to give medical advice and telemedicine services for both physical and mental health problems.
The department learned from the chat groups that some stranded Thai people had chronic diseases including diabetes, hypertension, cancer and brain diseases. Those who wanted to return to Thailand for treatment would be admitted at “hospital quarantine” facilities where they would be both treated and quarantined, he said.
Dr Somsak said he was worried about the conditions of illegal Thai workers in South Korea who were too afraid to seek medical services when they fell sick.
Meanwhile, the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration reported 17 new cases of COVID-19, all of whom were returnees. Fifteen of them arrived from India and one each from Australia and the United States.
Total cases rose to 3,376, 3,173 of whom recovered. The death toll remained at 58. (TNA)