The Department of Disease Control (DDC) has issued a set of guidelines which apply to hotels, guest houses and other lodgings for guests arriving from countries facing or at risk of facing an Ebola virus outbreak.
Dr. Direk Khampaen, the department’s deputy director general, said that the guidelines are intended to enable such establishments to keep their staff and guests safe and to reduce the risk of the spread of the dangerous disease.
One of the guidelines calls for the preparation of adequate health protection materials and facilities, such as points for hand washing, soap, alcohol gel and face masks for both staff and guests, as well as rubber gloves and disinfectants for staff members whose duties require them to be in contact with their guests.
If a guest is thought to be infected with Ebola, develops symptoms or is at risk of being infected, the guest must be told to wear a face mask and be quarantined in their room. Their towels, bed linen, glasses and kitchen utensils must be separated.
Those who are sick should not be allowed to use public transport and hotel staff must not use their vehicles to take them to a hospital, but must wait for the arrival of an ambulance.
Hotel management or staff must immediately alert the DDC by calling the emergency number 1422, or by contacting the nearest health office.
They are also told to maintain cleanliness in their premises and to use disinfectants at regular intervals on contact points, such door knobs, banisters and lift buttons, and to avoid direct contact with the bodily fluids from sick patients.
If necessary, staff are advised to wear PPE suits and to wash their hands with soap or alcohol gel during and after they finish work.
