Chiang Mai: Health Ministry issues directive on coronavirus reports

[webfact]

Health Ministry issues directive on coronavirus reports

By The Natinon

 

FILE photo

 

The health office in Chiang Mai said on Monday (January 27) that the Public Health Ministry had instructed provincial health offices to stop reporting the numbers of suspected and confirmed coronavirus cases and wait for the official announcement from the ministry after China announced a ban of all flight to the province after February 7. 

 

There are 19 direct flights daily from China to Chiang Mai, according to  airport authority. 

 

Manop Saejia, president of Chiang Mai Guide association, said Chinese  tourists would disappear from the airport's arrival lounge after February 7.   

 

Of all tourists from China, the ratio of group tours with guides and free independent travellers (FIT) are 40 and 60 per cent. 

 

Some visitors have returned to China, local authority is assessing the number of Chinese tourists still in the province.    

 

About 20 tour companies catering to Chinese tourists in Chiang Mai are collaborating with their partners in China and hotel operators in the province on the matter of refunding customers who have already paid for their flights and accommodations.  

 

The travel ban would have a wide impact on the province's tourism sector. 

 

About 2,000 Chinese-language guides in the north have been caught up in the situation, given that safety is the priority. 

 

Manop said guides could take care of Chinese visitors on group tours. However, FIT tourists who stay in condominiums and other places in Chiang Mai will be difficult to monitor, he added. 

 

Despite a screening system being set up at Chiang Mai airport, local authority are taking no chance with the spread of coronavirus in the province.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30381142

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-01-28

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info

[Tarteso]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

China announced a ban of all flight to the province after February 7. 

What a sh**t!  Why not today? Or last week? What are they waiting?

[GeorgeCross]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

the Public Health Ministry had instructed provincial health offices to stop reporting the numbers of suspected and confirmed coronavirus cases

 

ok time to panic

 

 

[yokat]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Public Health Ministry had instructed provincial health offices to stop reporting the numbers of suspected and confirmed coronavirus cases

Fortunately in Thailand people are more talkative and this country doesn't have half the censoring power than China has. I think we can expect a significant discrepancy between news reports and the official numbers to come.

[DrTuner]

Going to be the best time in years to tour Thailand. The Chinese hordes are gone. Enjoy it while it lasts.

[timendres]

5 hours ago, Tarteso said:

What a sh**t!  Why not today? Or last week? What are they waiting?

Can't be ruining the Chinese New Year holidays...

[placnx]

10 hours ago, webfact said:

China announced a ban of all flight to the province after February 7. 

 

6 hours ago, Tarteso said:

What a sh**t!  Why not today? Or last week? What are they waiting?

Hopefully, they will now stop sending more tourists and use these ongoing flights to repatriate the Chinese tourists already in CM.

[trainman34014]

Don't think there will be enough people allowed out of China to fill 19 flights a day now.  Chinese people are just as worried about the Virus as anyone else and won't be looking to fly on crowded Aircraft or be on crowded Tourist Buses.

 

We were out shopping this morning and it was very quiet almost everywhere.

[ExpatOne]

9 hours ago, GeorgeCross said:

 

ok time to panic

 

 

They did this before. They don’t care about the people (tourists or Thai people), only the baht.

[ChakaKhan]

13 hours ago, Tarteso said:

What a sh**t!  Why not today? Or last week? What are they waiting?

money no.1 in LOS....

[Thailand]

What a dilemma. Which mask to wear. Or have matching masks, for deadly pollution and deadly virus.

Apparently there is also now a thriving business in second hand masks! ????

[ChakaKhan]

10 hours ago, Thailand said:

What a dilemma. Which mask to wear. Or have matching masks, for deadly pollution and deadly virus.

Apparently there is also now a thriving business in second hand masks! ????

Double up on masks and condoms....

[DrTuner]

10 hours ago, Thailand said:

What a dilemma. Which mask to wear. Or have matching masks, for deadly pollution and deadly virus.

Apparently there is also now a thriving business in second hand masks! ????

I think the mask du jour is still Hello Kitty. Nothing like a Singha wifebeater with a pink mask.