Thailand’s Finance Minister Uttama Savanayana has self-quarantined after he learned that one of his protection officers has been admitted to the Police Hospital for treatment for COVID-19.

The minister’s secretary, Mr. Thanakorn Wangboonchana, said today that he had learned that the officer reported to work on March 11^th and then took leave.

He added that he discovered later that the officer had been admitted to the Police Hospital for treatment, adding that Mr. Uttama then immediately went to see a doctor for tests and took leave for 14 days of quarantine at home.

Finance Permanent Secretary Prasong Poonthanet said, however, that Mr. Uttama did not travel in the same vehicle with the infected officer.

While waiting for test results, Mr. Thanakorn said the finance minister will work from home via video conference with officials at the Finance Ministry.

It is reported that the protection officer had been to a pub in Bangkok’s Thonglor area to attend a party, where a group of about 14 people shared drinks with an associate from Hong Kong and was infected with coronavirus.

Meanwhile, Mr. Prasong has ordered a major clean-up of the Finance Ministry and has asked public health officials to visit the ministry to give advice on the appropriate measures to be taken to ensure the safety of everyone there.