Update Coronavirus (7): Passengers Dutch cruise ship are not allowed to disembark in Thailand
The passengers of the Dutch cruise ship Westerdam are not allowed to disembark in Thailand for fear of the corona virus. The Westerdam left Hong Kong on 1 February. The cruise ship was previously refused in the Philippines, Taiwan and Japan for fear of contamination. It then sailed to Thailand and wanted to dock in Chon Buri, but the cruise ship is not welcome there.
Update Coronavirus in Thailand (6): First foreign death
A 60-year-old American man is the first person of non-Chinese nationality to die after being infected with the new corona virus. The US Embassy in Beijing has confirmed his death. The American was infected in the city of Wuhan and died on Thursday.
Thai minister: 'Farang who don't wear a mouth mask should be kicked out of the country!'
The Thai Minister of Health Anutin Charnvirakul made a very remarkable statement today. According to him, foreign tourists who refuse to wear a mouth mask should be kicked out of the country.
How dangerous is the new Coronavirus really?
How dangerous is the Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) really? Although I am not a doctor or a scientist, I try to answer this question based on facts.
Update Coronavirus in Thailand (5): Six new infections
More than 24.000 infections with the Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) have been counted in China since yesterday. Another 65 people died in Hubei province yesterday from the effects of the virus. This brings the number of deaths in China to more than 490. The death rate is still around 2 percent.
At least 20.438 people have now been infected in China and 425 people have died from the consequences of the Coronavirus (2019-nCoV). At least 132 infections have been detected outside China, of which two people have died, one in the Philippines and one in Hong Kong. Because the Coronavirus has already claimed more than 400 deaths, the number of victims of the SARS outbreak has passed. In 2003, SARS killed 349 people in China and Hong Kong.
Update Coronavirus in Thailand (3): First death outside of China
In the Philippines, the first fatality from the Coronavirus outside of China was reported on Saturday. It concerns a 44-year-old man from the Chinese city of Wuhan, he was one of two people in the Philippines who were infected with the virus. This has been announced by the Philippine Department of the World Health Organization (WHO).
In Thailand, the first human-to-human transmission of the virus is a fact. A taxi driver who has never been to China has contracted the corona virus. Director Sopon of the Bureau of General Communicable Diseases suspects that the driver was infected when he took a Chinese tourist to the hospital. There is also human-to-human transmission in Germany, Japan, South Korea and the US.
Thailand travel advice update and additional information
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in close cooperation with the embassy and its chain partners, has adjusted the travel advice for Thailand in connection with the outbreak of the corona virus.
Prime Minister Prayut reported sick yesterday, a day after his visit to Suvarnabhumi. That led to many rumors on social media that he was infected with the corona virus, but that is contradicted by doctors.
WHO: Coronavirus outbreak is an international health crisis
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak of the new Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) as an international health crisis on Thursday after urgent consultation. More than 9.600 infections and 213 people have now died in China from the effects of the virus. Nearly a hundred infections have been detected outside China.
Thailand is under the spell of the Corona virus and dominates the news. Because many Chinese holiday in Thailand, the country is on edge. In China, another 38 people have died from the corona virus, bringing the death toll to 170 on Wednesday.
Scientists: Thailand is at highest risk for Coronavirus outbreak
Outside of China, Thailand and especially Bangkok should fear the coronavirus, scientists in the UK have warned. According to a report from the University of Southampton, Bangkok is facing the greatest threat from the coronavirus due to the large number of travelers from China, and in particular the number of travelers originating from Wuhan and surrounding provinces.
The outbreak of the corona virus will cost Thailand a lot of income. Estimated at least 50 billion baht. That amount is based on the average spending of 50.000 baht per Chinese tourist in Thailand.