Health officials on Thailand’s Samui Island are scrambling to trace people who were in close contact with a French woman, who has fallen sick and tested positive for COVID-19 since she completed her 14-day mandatory quarantine in Bangkok.
At a hastily-called media conference on the resort island this afternoon (Friday), Dr. Sophon Iamsirithavorn, Director of the country’s General Infectious Diseases Division, said that the 57-year old woman arrived in Bangkok, with two family members,on Thai Airways International flight TG933 on September 30th. They entered hotel based quarantine in the capital for 14 days. She underwent two swab tests and both returned negativeresults.
After leaving quarantine on October 15th, she went to the French Embassy, before flying to Samui Island with her family onBangkok Airways flight PG167. The family was met at the island’s airport by a friend and driven to their accommodation.
On October 17th, the woman developed a fever, cough and muscle pain. She was admitted to a private hospital on October 21st, but was discharged the following day, while results of the tests were pending.
The results showed a positive result and the COVID-19 infection was reconfirmed by the medical science centre in Surat Thani. She was readmitted to hospital and isolated for treatment on October 22nd.
Dr. Veerasak Lorthongkham, Director of Samui Hospital, said the patient’s husband and son tested negative, but a second test is to be conducted and both have been isolated.
Ten passengers and two crew from the Bangkok Airway’s flight have been asked in for tests and isolation tomorrow. 21 others,classified as being at low-risk, have been placed under close watch, he added.
