Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health today announced the country’s 42nd confirmed COVID-19 case, as health officials attempt to trace his family, colleagues and anyone else with whom the patient has been in recent contact, so they can be screened.

Public health permanent secretary Dr. Sukhum Kanchanapimai said that the new patient is a 21-year old man, working as a sales person, who may have contracted the virus from someone visiting Thailand.  He began to experience flu like symptoms on Monday this week and visited a private hospital on Tuesday, where he tested positive for COVID-19. He has now been transferred to Nopparat Ratchathani Hospital for treatment.

Currently, 28 of the 42 people infected with the virus in Thailand have recovered and returned home. The other 14 remain in hospital under medical supervision.

Meanwhile, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said today that the ministry will distribute three free face masks to each person on Monday and asked the recipients not to sell them.

He urged members of the public to monitor their own health, to wash their hands with soap and water regularly, to eat hot and fully cooked food, to wear face masks in public and avoid travelling to high-risk countries. If the journey is essential, however, travellers must monitor their health closely, for example by measuring their body temperature at least once a day, and go to a doctor immediately should flu-like symptoms develop.

Chulalongkorn Hospital has prepared three laboratories, which are capable of testing 1,000 fluid samples a day, with results available within three hours.

Additionally, 14 medical science centres outside the capital are now capable of testing for COVID-19 infection, avoiding the need for, and resulting delay of sending the samples to Bangkok.

Dr. Sutthipong Watcharasindhu said that, as more medical personnel will be needed to look after COVID-19 patients in the event that the spread of the infection in Thailand reaches Stage 3, those people not requiring emergency treatment may be asked to wait.