Effective health surveillance systems for disease control to ensure that travellers can travel worry-free around the kingdom.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) would like to inform tourists and travellers in Thailand and around the world that tourism events and activities scheduled during this month and the next will take place as usual.
They include international events; such as, the Amazing Thailand Marathon Bangkok 2020 on 2 February, GSB Thailand Open 2020 presented by EA from 10-16 February in Hua Hin, Honda LPGA Thailand 2020 on 22-23 February in Pattaya, and PTT Thailand Grand Prix 2020 MotoGP, from 20-22 March in Buri Ram.
In addition, Thai Buddhists will celebrate the Makha Bucha Day with traditional activities at temples across the kingdom.
TAT would like to reiterate that Thailand is working with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other countries to further understand any infections caused by the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) and to ensure that they are prevented and controlled.
There is no outbreak of 2019-nCoV in Thailand
To-date, the Ministry of Public Health has confirmed 14 cases in Thailand (13 Chinese and a Thai). Five of them (four Chinese and a Thai) have recovered and returned home. The other nine Chinese patients remain at medical facilities.
Thailand has effective health surveillance systems for disease control
Thailand is implementing an intensive and unremitting screening and surveillance for the 2019-nCoV, especially at the international points of entry, including Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket and Krabi International Airports. The screening covers passengers and air crew on all flights from China.
Nationwide medical labs have been upgraded for a real-time RT-PCR (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) laboratory technique allowing blood test results to be obtained within three hours. This is part of the ongoing intensive screening and disease surveillance for the 2019-nCoV.
Thai public and private sectors step up hygiene measures
As well as airports, mass public transport including the BTS Sky Train, shopping malls, hotels, and public areas have stepped up hygiene measures, including extra cleaning and disinfection as well as providing hand sanitisers.
This includes the preventive measures by all airlines comprising passenger screening and ground service measures and inflight service measures.
Tourism business operators to monitor for symptoms
For tourists and travellers in Thailand, tourism business operators are instructed to monitor for symptoms of their customers. If any traveller has respiratory symptoms including coughing, sneezing, panting or a runny nose after arriving from any affected areas, tourism business operators are to seek medical care at a hospital immediately and inform the doctor regarding the person’s history of recent travel from China.
How to reduce your risk of coronavirus infection
For regular updates on the 2019-nCoV situation in Thailand, tourists and travellers can visit https://ddc.moph.go.th/viralpneumonia/intro.php, which is available in Thai, Chinese and English and includes the following guidelines:
- The 2019 novel coronavirus can be prevented using the principles for respiratory disease prevention, i.e., washing hands, wearing masks and avoiding contact with patients who have a respiratory disease.
- People can still travel to China; however, it is recommended to avoid visiting crowded places and making contact with patients who have respiratory symptoms. If this is unavoidable, people should wear a mask.
- If anyone has symptoms including coughing, sneezing, panting or a runny nose within 14 days after departing from Wuhan, China, please seek medical care at a hospital immediately and inform the doctor regarding the history of recent travel to China
- It is recommended to avoid visiting markets selling carcasses or live animals. If touching or handling live animals, people should wear gloves.
- Regularly wash hands with water and soap or use alcohol gel. It is also recommended to avoid using your hands to touch your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Do not use or share personal items with others (i.e. handkerchief, glasses, and towels) since pathogens causing respiratory disease can be transmitted to other people through secretions.
- It is recommended to avoid eating uncooked food.
Once again, TAT would like to affirm travellers and the international community that every effort has been made by the Thai authorities to prevent the outbreak of 2019-nCov in Thailand.
For additional questions, please call the Department of Disease Control Hotline 1422 or the Tourist Police Hotline 1155.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
