Medical staff flying to Wuhan to evacuate Thais ‘well equipped'
Fifteen medical staff who have volunteered to evacuate Thai people stranded in the coronavirus-hit Wuhan city in China will employ the highest caution against the virus and are equipped with full protective gears, Dr Suwanchai Wattanayingcharoenchai, Department of Disease Control director-general, and Dr Apichat Wachiraphan, director of Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute, said in a joint statement on Monday (February 3).
“The staff will reach Wuhan today [February 4] and each person is equipped with customised N95 protective masks that fit their face perfectly as well as full body protection suits,” said Apichat. “All staff have proper medical training and are efficient in moving patients/infected persons using as little time as possible.”
The plane staff will also wear protective suits but have been instructed not to leave the aircraft at all times, he added.
“The Chinese government officials will screen the passengers before allowing them to board, and we will screen them again before entering the plane,” said Suwanchai. “The screening process might take some time, so we have instructed all our staff to be patient.”
Anybody who has fever above 37.3 degrees Celsius will not be allowed to leave the country, according to Chinese government regulations, Suwanchai said.
Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul will not be flying with the medical team on this trip, but will wait at U-tapao Airport instead.