Thailand — A Thai taxi driver has recently been added to the list of confirmed cases of the novel nCov infection. The latest announcement brought the current toll of confirmed coronavirus cases in the Kingdom to 19.
According to the Permanent Health Secretary Sukhum Karnchanapimai, the driver is the first instance of a local human-to-human viral transmission. Furthermore, the cabbie has never traveled to China. Investigators closely monitored 13 people who had been in close contact with the taxi driver. However, none have tested positive for the virus at this stage.
“He does not have the record of traveling to China. It is likely that he was infected by a sick traveler from China.”
Meanwhile, the Thai Public Health Minister, Anutin Charnverakul, has come out in favor of scrapping all visa on arrival facilities for Chinese visitors.
However, the move is opposed by many tourism industry leaders. They argue that tourism from China is already down 80%. They added that such a move will only alienate the Chinese public and jeopardize the long term relationship.
Health professionals, as well as the minster, say that they anticipate further transmission of the virus in the kingdom but hope to isolate and control the outbreak.
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