Thailand confirms 2 more new cases of COVID-19, 50 in total

The Thai Ministry of Public Health on Saturday confirmed two more new cases of the COVID-19, bringing the total to 50.

The ministry also said that of those cases, 31 have fully recovered and most have returned home, and 18 are still in hospital with one in fatality.

"The two new cases are both Thai nationals, aged about 40, who are among a group of six being kept under close watch after their return from a business trip to Italy," Sukhum Kanchanapimai, permanent secretary to the Ministry of Public Health, said. "Since the six were isolated for observation, no other people have been exposed."

Regarding a Thai female worker who just returned from South Korea and was found by health officials to have a fever upon arrival at Suvarnabhumi international airport on March 5, two laboratory tests have come back negative for the virus, whereas a severe case at Bamrasnaradura Infectious Disease Institute is currently in critical condition, although the case has been cleared of the COVID-19, said Sukhum.

Sukhum also said that there are several more European countries on the ministry's COVID-19 watch list. He asked Thai people who have visited these countries to monitor their health upon their return for the public's sake as well as their own.

He also warned the media not to focus on just the negative aspects of the situation, but to include positive elements as well, such as good behavior of Thai returnees from high-risk countries as they voluntarily observe self-quarantine.