Thailand reports 32 new coronavirus cases, brings total to 114

BANGKOK: Thailand reported 32 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday (Mar 15), bringing the total infections in the Southeast Asian country to 114, said the Ministry of Public Health.

It was the biggest daily jump in cases in Thailand, which was one of the first countries outside China to report coronavirus infections that has since swept much of the world.

Of the confirmed cases on Sunday, two are employees at a restaurant in Bangkok owned by a Singaporean man who had previously tested positive for the coronavirus. 

Nine had visited Bangkok’s Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, while eight had visited other entertainment venues. Three patients had had close contact with tourists at Bangkok’s  Suvarnabhumi Airport. Five cases are imported and two are tourists in Thailand. 

Investigations into the source of the infection are still ongoing for three patients.

Separately, 51 other patients’ cases are also being investigated, said health officials.

According to Dr Sukhum Kanchanapimai, permanent secretary of the Public Health Ministry, 83 people travelled from Italy Sunday morning to Thailand’s Utapao Airport in Sattahip, Chonburi province. 

Six of them showed symptoms related to COVID-19 and were transferred to a hospital for further examination. The remaining 77 travellers were sent to the Sattahip Naval Base, where they will be monitored for 14 days.  

Dr Sukhum also told reporters the Disease Control Department will launch a map showing locations in Thailand where all the confirmed cases of COVID-19 were reported.

As the country intensified efforts to contain the outbreak, Thailand’s public health ministry on Saturday released detailed measures for travellers visiting the country. Travellers arriving in Thailand would be categorised into three groups for different levels of surveillance, based on where their departure was from. 

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