BANGKOK – The Public Health Ministry plans to raise the novel coronavirus (Covid-2019) disease outbreak in Thailand to the third stage to facilitate containment of the virus.
Deputy prime minister and public health minister, Anutin Charnvirakul said the National Infection Control Committee will meet Monday’s afternoon to consider the plan and will make an announcement after the meeting.
The meeting is also expected to list Covid-19 as a dangerous communicable disease for effective response to the disease.
The third stage refers to mass infections in a country.Meanwhile, Thailand is now in the second stage with reports of local transmission.
“Thailand’s situation has not yet reached the peak stage but we have to be prepared and stay vigilant amid concerns over possible quick spread of the disease as it occurred in South Korea,” said the public health minister.
If the disease is announced as the dangerous communicable disease, persons, who are at risk of contracting the deadly virus cannot refuse medical treatment, he added.