Thai officials keeping close watch on cruise ship docking in Cambodia
Thai Immigration Police has been closely coordinating with the Cambodian government regarding the “Westerdam” cruise ship docking at Sihanoukville, Cambodia on Thursday (February 13), Pol Maj-General Archayon Kraithong, commander of Immigration Police Division 3, said.
Thailand had refused to let the ship dock at Laem Chabang Port in Chonburi because of concerns over the new coronavirus (Covid-19).
“As of 10am, the ship was still in the waters, while local medical staff have entered the ship to check and screen passengers and crews if there are any infections,” he said. “Once the screening process is complete, the ship's passengers and crews will be processed by Cambodian authorities according to immigration regulations.”
Archayon added that passengers and crews who had passed the screening and immigration process should be allowed to travel to other countries, including Thailand, in order to catch a flight to their home countries.
“We have requested the Cambodian government to submit the list of any passengers who want to enter Thailand as well as their health examination results,” he said.
“We have also deployed medical staffs from the Ministry of Public Health at all border checkpoints connecting with Cambodia to screen passengers from Westerdam again before they enter Thailand.”
“I would like to insist that the screening process and staff at all border checkpoints are at 100 per cent readiness, so Thai people can rest assured that no infected persons could slip through,” he added.