NONTHABURI — The Public Health Ministry steps up measures to control the novel coronavirus in communities as the World Health Organization has declared the disease outbreak international emergency.
Dr Sopon Iamsirithavorn, director of the Bureau of General Communicable Diseases, said that the declaration by WHO prompted all countries to intensify their disease control measures.
In response to the declaration, Thailand that had imposed strict control measures at airports turned to urge Thai people to wear face masks in crowded areas and often wash hands. Reusable cloth face masks were recommended for people to save costs and reduce garbage, he said.
He also said that two ill taxi drivers suspected of infection were recovering and their coronavirus test results would be announced soon.
Human-to-human transmission of the new disease already happened in South Korea, the United States, Japan, Vietnam and Germany, Dr Sopon said.
He also said 14 infected people were reported in Thailand and seven of them recovered and were discharged from hospital.
Meanwhile, Dr Narong Aphikulvanich, deputy director-general of the Department of Medical Services, said 64 Thai people were stranded in Wuhan and doctors would fly to Wuhan to examine them when their evacuation was permitted.
They would be quarantined for 14 days no matter whether they were ill or not, he said.
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