Tourists in Thailand to take precautions as necessary to reduce the risk of coronavirus infection by adhering to the health guidelines by the WHO and Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health.
Bangkok, 24 January 2020 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) would like to advise tourists and visitors in Thailand to take precautions as necessary in the wake of a reported outbreak of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
The World Health Organisation (WHO) yesterday issued a statement regarding the outbreak of 2019-nCoV, following the meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee, which took place on Wednesday, 22 January and Thursday, 23 January. The meeting discussed the outbreak in the People’s Republic of China, with exportations currently reported in the Republic of Korea, Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Taipei Municipality, Macau Special Administrative Region, United States of America and Singapore (Click https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200123-sitrep-3-2019-ncov.pdf to read the statement).
During the meeting, representatives of the Ministry of Health of the People’s Republic of China, Japan, Thailand and the Republic of Korea updated the committee on the situation in their countries. There have been increased numbers of reported cases in China, with 571 confirmed as of 23 January.
According to the WHO’s statement, it is expected that further international exportation of cases may appear in any country. It urged countries to be prepared for containment, including active surveillance, early detection, isolation and case management, contact tracing and prevention of the onward spread of the 2019-nCoV infection, and to share full data with the WHO.
In Thailand, TAT would like to inform tourists and visitors that every effort has been made to prevent the outbreak in the country. Since 3 January, Thai health authorities have set up four infrared thermal scan units at Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Krabi International Airports for the round-the-clock screening of all passengers, especially from China.
Thailand’s Department of Disease Control (DDC) is also handing out a ‘Health Beware Card’ for travellers arriving in Thailand. The card reads, “Welcome to Thailand. Please keep this card with you. It may save your life! If you are ill with fever, cough, and/or have difficulty breathing within 14 days after arriving in Thailand, kindly give this card to your doctor and tell him or her of your recent travel in Wuhan, China.
“You may have been exposed to an infectious disease before arriving in this country. Thus, your information on the travel history, symptoms, onset date, arrival date, and accommodation name will help your doctor to give a right disease diagnosis and prompt treatment.
“If you would like to report your illness, please contact the Department of Disease Control at the DDC Hotline 1422 so that appropriate assistance can be offered.”
For knowing more Visit: TAT updates travel advisory regarding 2019 novel coronavirus
