Visiting team led by US Army chief not to be quarantined
A delegation led by the United States’ Army chief of staff won’t be quarantined at state facilities as they are "not a Covid-19 risk group" but will be required to wear face masks during talks with the prime minister, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) said.
CCSA spokesman Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin said there were six reasons why the group, led by Army chief General James McConville, won’t need to be quarantined – they are from a “high-ranked organisation”, not more than 10 persons (9), travelled for a short distance, screened for the virus in the last country they departed, accompanied by public health officials and travelled in private vehicles.
“The visit is related to delicate international ties and Thailand must welcome its guests,” Taweesin said. “We have exchanged [Covid-19] information with the US and they understand.”
General McConville is to meet Thai Army chief General Apirat Kongsompong and Prime Minister Prayut Cha-o-cha on July 9 and 10.
He and his group will be the first foreign guests to visit the country after it went into lockdown amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
He met with Thailand’s RTA Combat Team in Hawaii on July 5 and discussed improvements in manoeuvres under the Lightning Forge 2020 exercise and Covid-19 preventive measures.