All hotels in the popular seaside resort town of Hua Hin have been instructed, by the district chief officer, to check the passports of all Chinese tourists and to immediately report to health officials if any of them appear sick and develop symptoms associated with the new coronavirus pneumonia.

In an announcement issued today (Saturday) by Mr. Thanon Panphipat, the district chief officer said that the instruction was a precautionary measure to prevent the possible spread of the virus, because many Chinese tourists are visiting Hua Hin during the Chinese New Year festival, which starts today.

Meanwhile, Prachuap Khiri Khan provincial health officials reported that a 73-year old tourist, from the Chinese city of Wuhan, who fell sick and was admitted to a private hospital in Hua Hin, has been diagnosed with the new coronavirus.

The tourist flew into Suvarnabhumi international airport on January 19^th from Wuhan and then proceeded to Hua Hin for a sight-seeing tour, but she fell sick on Thursday night and was admitted to a private hospital for treatment and observation.

Preventive measures are necessary, in light of anticipated rise in the number of Chinese people expected to visit Thailand during the Chinese New Year festival, and Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has called an urgent meeting tomorrow (Sunday) of senior officials, from the ministries of Public Health, Transport and Tourism and Sports to discuss plans to limit the spread of new coronavirus in Thailand.

Government deputy spokeswoman Ms. Traisulee Traisorankul said today that the meeting is expected to define preventive measures, which can be taken to cope with the deadly virus, for submission to the cabinet on Tuesday.

The new case in Hua Hin has brought the total coronavirus cases in Thailand to six.