The repatriation of Thais from Bahrain, as well as consular services at the Thai Embassy in Bahrain’s capital, Manama, have been suspended until August 22nd after a Bahraini official in the consular office was found to be infected with COVID-19.
Additionally, one Thai and one local official at the Thai Embassy in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, also have the virus, but their conditions are not serious and they are now being cared for by Saudi doctors, with the Thai official being hospitalized.
Thailand’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Mr. Cherdkiat Atthakor, said yesterday that, for the safety of both embassy staff and visitors, the Thai Embassy in Manama has temporarily suspended consular services, adding that arrangements for special flights to bring Thai people back from Bahrain have also been postponed.
He assured that the embassy in Bahrain will do its best to resume repatriation flights this month and that people will be notified of any new developments.
About 67,000 Thais, living or working overseas, have been repatriated since April, with the help of Thai embassies, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
