Thailand to screen tour guides for coronavirus after arrival of 25,000 passengers from Wuhan and other Chinese cities

Thailand has 14 confirmed cases of the virus, more than any country outside China, which has confirmed more than 6,000 cases

The kingdom recorded 25,029 arrivals at five airports from Wuhan and other affected Chinese cities between January 3 and January 27

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Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha talks to officials as he visits the patient screening point at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. Officials have stepped up monitoring and inspection for the new coronavirus. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 7:25pm, 29 Jan 2020Updated: 7:25pm, 29 Jan 2020

Thai health officials said on Wednesday they will start screening tourist sector workers for coronavirus as part of measures to control the spread of the new disease that has killed 132 people in China.

Thailand has seen 14 cases of coronavirus, more than any country outside China, which has confirmed over 6,000 cases. All but one of them have been among Chinese visiting Thailand, a popular tourist destination.

“We have to monitor Thais in professions that come in contact with foreign tourists, particularly the Chinese,” said Tanarak Pipat, deputy director general of the Department of Disease Control.

Chinese tourists wearing protective masks are seen at an airport in Bangkok, Thailand. Photo: EPA-EFE

“This includes professions like guides and tour leaders that bring Chinese travellers to Thailand. If they exhibit symptoms like fever, cough or sour throat then we have to scan for coronavirus.”

Tens of thousands of Chinese tourists visited Thailand in the lead-up to the Lunar New Year on January 25.

There have so far been no confirmed cases of human-to-human transmission inside Thailand, Tanarak said.

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