Thai medical authorities are prepared to quarantine the 144 Thais who will be evacuated from the Chinese city of Wuhan and flown home Tuesday evening and transferred to the Navy base in Chonburi.

Spokesman of the Royal Thai Navy Vice Adm Prachachart Sirisawasdi said the returnees will be quarantined at the hospital at the Sattahip Naval Base in the eastern province.

“We are prepared to provide all facilities to look after the returnees who will be under observation for 14 days,” he said.

An AirAsia flight left Bangkok this morning for Wuhan to pick up the 144 Thais who have registered for evacuation.

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Monday the Thais will be screened by Chinese medical authorities before being allowed on the flight.  And as part of an international standard procedure, they will be subject to a 14-day observation in a quarantine area to ensure that they are not infected before being allowed to go home.

Anutin declined to be specific about the location where the returnees will be housed out of fears that there might be opposition from local people.  Anutin was apparently referring to Indonesia where local villagers staged a protest against a plan by authorities to use a remote island as a virus quarantine area for Indonesians evacuated from Wuhan.

Anutin also said the flight will also carry medical supplies and equipment donated by Their Majesties the King and Queen to be handed to Chinese medical authorities to help with the fight against the deadly virus.