The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Thailand has increased by one to 43, as another patient recovers and has been cleared of the disease.
Public health permanent secretary, Dr. Sukhum Kancchanapimai, told a news conference today that the 43rd case is a 22-year old Thai woman who works with the 37th case, a chauffeur serving foreign tourists.
The latest patient to recover from COVID-19 is a 43-year old woman who, returned from a trip to Japan and was admitted to Rajavithi Hospital for treatment.
Dr. Sukhum said that the technical working panel of the National Committee on Communicable Diseases has redefined suspected COVID-19 cases to cover groups of at least five people who stay or work together in the same place and are suffering from a respiratory disease, as well as people coming from high-risk areas, people who are in close contact with those infected, medical personnel and those suffering from lung inflammation due to an unidentified cause.
Meanwhile, Disease Control Department director-general Suwanchai Wattanayingcharoenchai assured that the department did not attempt to conceal the death of a COVID-19-related case, and insisted that it was normal procedure for the National Committee on Communicable Disease to investigate the case to determine the exact cause of death.
Several government offices, including Government House, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and state hospitals, have started checking the body temperatures of everyone entering them.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and cabinet ministers were among those subjected to the strengthened screening procedure, amidst rising concerns over the spread of the virus.
