Public Health and Foreign Affairs ministries working together to aid Thais abroad

Praphorn Praphornkul

 

 

BANGKOK(NNT)-The Ministry of Public Health has joined hands with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide care and guidance to Thai nationals stranded abroad due to the COVID-19 situation.

 

The Spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Director-General of the Department of Information, Cherdkiat Atthakor, said Thai embassies, consulates and official teams are monitoring Thai students and citizens abroad, providing them with necessities and face masks where needed, with doctors providing counseling via online channels for the physical and mental health of Thai COVID-19 patients abroad. A prioritization list has been created to repatriate Thais still outside the kingdom, with the infirm and young to be the first. Those returning must hold proper documentation, confirming their health condition.

 

The Director-General of the Department of Medical Services, Dr. Somsak Akksilp, said some of those abroad are infirm, unemployed or lacking documentation due to their work status, while acknowledging a lack of flights. He said the health ministry is coordinating with consulates and embassies to guide Thai students and others and to provide medical care, going as far as forming 10 teams of 35 medical workers to aid Thais in places such as Shanghai in China, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Egypt, South Korea, Russia, Uzbekistan and Brazil.

 

Both offices have asked Thais abroad to prepare the required documentation, including health certifications. A total 69,764 Thais from 97 countries have returned since operations began on April 4, with 14,080 making it back this month alone.

 

Certificates of Entry (COE) have been provided to 5,700 foreigners conforming to the 11 categories indicated by the state. All have been required to follow state regulations and undergo a 14-day quarantine.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2020-08-16

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

13 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

health certifications

=fit to fly certificate=useless in terms of preventing spread of a virus. 

9 minutes ago, RotBenz8888 said:

=fit to fly certificate=useless in terms of preventing spread of a virus. 

 

True, but it gets you on a plane and into quarantine.