BANGKOK, Jan 31 (TNA) – Thailand is to step up its
measures in response to coronavirus outbreak that has been declared a global
emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO), as the government is still
waiting for China’s permission to evacuate around 60 Thais from Wuhan city.
Saksayam Chidchop, Minister of Transport, said on Friday
after a meeting of economic ministers that whenever China gave a permission
Thailand would immediately send a commercial flight with medical staff and
equipment to Wuhan.
He said he could not confirm the date after reports
suggested evacuation of Thai people would be allowed after Saturday.
In a daily press briefing Friday morning, the Public Health
Ministry announced that of one of the 14 coronavirus-infected patients found in
Thailand has been discharged, bringing the number of patient recovered from the
virus to seven.
Dr. Sophon Iam-siritavorn, a Department of Disease Control
senior official, said after the WHO declared the novel coronavirus a global
emergency Thailand would consider extensive measures.
In addition to health screening and quarantine measures had
been implemented since January 3, Thai health officials now would also focus on
community-level surveillance and preparedness, he said.
Health campaigns on the novel coronavirus were underway to
raise awareness among local people and those in tourism-related businesses,
said Dr. Sophon.
A national panel on infectious disease would consider two
suspected cases of coronavirus to determine whether they were cases of
human-to-human infection, he said.
The conditions the two taxi drivers who were hired by
Chinese tourists have improved. But if
confirmed to have been infected with the coronavirus they will be the first
cases of human-to-human infection in the country.
The Ministry of Public Health also reports the number of
suspected cases accumulated since January 3 has increased to 280, 212 of them
are being treated at hospitals and medical institutes while 68 have been
discharged.
Concerns over the possible outbreak in Thailand have hit not
only tourism industry but also other economic activities. Vendors at a famous market in Hat Yai, Kim
Yong Market, say there are fewer customers who are spending less.
They asked health officials to provide information to the
public in order to ease their concerns, because Hat Yai is not at risk of the
outbreak.
In addition to airports, health screening procedures have
also been conducted at border checkpoints; all travelers are checked with
thermoscan.(TNA)
