COVID-19: French woman who completes quarantine, tests positive in Thailand

BANGKOK, Oct 23 -- A French woman who completed the compulsory 14-day quarantine at an Alternative State Quarantine (ASQ) has been tested positive for COVID-19.

Division of Communicable Diseases director, Sophon Iamsirithavorn said the 57-year-old French woman arrived in Thailand with her husband and a child from France on September 30 and completed the quarantine on Oct 15 before they travelled to Koh Samui in Surat Thani province the same day.

However, he said the woman sought medical treatment at a hospital in Koh Samui after showing symptoms of COVID-19 infection, such as cough and muscles pain on Oct 20.

“She was tested positive on Wednesday. At present, she is receiving treatment at a hospital in Koh Samui,” he said at a press conference here today.

He added that the woman’s husband and her child were tested negative for COVID-19.

Sophon said the authorities are stepping up contact tracing to stop the spread of the deadly virus.

“The investigation team found 15 people deemed as high-risk and they include 10 passengers and two cabin crews on the same flight as well as her Thai friends. Another 21 people are low-risk contacts,” he said. 

He said the authorities are investigating the source of infection.

“To date, Thailand has no plan to increase the quarantine period for arrivals. Thailand still adheres to the 14-day quarantine for all Thais and foreigners entering the kingdom,” he said.

Meanwhile, Thailand reported eight new COVID-19 cases including a two-year-old boy, and zero deaths over the last 24 hours, bringing the tally to 3,727 cases with 59 fatalities.

--  BERNAMA