BANGKOK, Feb 17 (TNA) – The Public Health Ministry confirmed a new coronavirus case, raising the total number of the Covid-19 patients in the country to 35.
The new patient is a 68-year-old Chinese woman and she had close contact with another Covid-19 patient in her family, said Sukhum Kanchanapimai, the Ministry of Public Health’s permanent secretary.
He said the ministry has intensified surveillance measures at screening checkpoints at airports and hospitals for people returning from China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taipei, Japan, Singapore and countries where the transmission has been reported in the community level.
Patients, suffering from pneumonia with unknown causes will be placed under suspected cases.
Meanwhile, 137 Thai returnees from Wuhan, who are now under 14-day quarantine at the Sattahip naval base are prepared to go home on Feb 19 after confirmation that they are free from the virus.
Suwanchai Wattanayingcharoenchai, director-general of the Department of the Disease Control Department allayed public concerns over possible spread of the disease in Tak’s Mae Sot district where there are Chinese tourists, crossing the border from Myanmar.
He said Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul held a teleconference meeting with senior officials there today. Strict screening has been imposed at border and about 100 cases have been placed under monitoring. (TNA)
