Centre monitoring 138 Thai evacuees from Wuhan set to close
The centre monitoring the 138 Thais who were brought back from Wuhan city, China’s Hubei province – the epicentre of the new coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak – will officially close, Region 6 Disease Prevention and Control Office director Dr Hansa Raksakhom said today (February 18).
She was speaking at a press conference at Abhakorn Kiattiwong Hospital at Sattahip Naval Base in Chon Buri province, which has served as a central operation centre for medical teams that have been monitoring the Thai evacuees.
“The mandatory 14-day quarantine of Thai evacuees will end tomorrow, which is when the center will officially close,” she said. “Of the 138 Thais brought back from Wuhan, five displayed symptoms of Covid-19 and were sent to Queen Sirikit and Sattahip hospitals for treatment. After treatment, four have fully recovered and been discharged, while only one patient still tests positive for Covid-19 and is now under hospital care.”
The evacuees arrived in Thailand at U-Tapao International Airport in Rayong on February 4.
“All Thais in quarantine have undergone a final virus test in their nasal cavity before being sent home tomorrow,” she added. “The test was performed last night [February 17] and the result will be confirmed in around 8-12 hours. All those who test negative will be discharged and provided with a doctor’s certificate to present to employers and family members to eliminate their concern over possible infection.”
Relatives of those in quarantine can pick them up at 9am on Wednesday (February 19) at the centre. The Royal Thai Navy will also provide a shuttle bus for those who do not have anyone to pick them up, Hansa added.