Coronavirus (Covid-19)

60 quarantined as Army Welfare chief tests positive

Published

1 year ago

Monday, March 16, 2020

Jack Burton

PHOTO: - CSA

The director-general of the Army Welfare Department has tested positive for the Covid-19 coronavirus and is being treated in hospital. Sixty people who had close contact with him have been quarantined in their homes, including some of the army’s top brass. An army spokeman made the announcement today.

“Sixty people risked infection and home quarantine was ordered for them. They included 36 commanding officers deemed at high risk.”

Officials have traced the activities of Major General Rachit Arunrangsiback 14 days to identify those in close contact with him. Those quarantined include some of the army’s top brass, because they attended the same meeting last week. Others were drivers and family members of people in close contact. The army’s chief, General Apirat Kongsompong was not among them.

“Those who were within 4.5 metres [of him] for at least 15 minutes are at risk.”

Apirat has ordered regular checks to be sure that those in home quarantine obey the order.

Rachit developed a fever on Friday and tested positive for the virus at a private hospital. He had been at Bangkok’s Lumpini boxing stadium, where multiple other confirmed cases, including actor where multiple other cases, including actor Matthew Deane, are believed to have contracted the virus.

SOURCES: Bangkok Post | Pattaya News

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Jack Burton

Jack Burton is an American writer, broadcaster, linguist and journalist who has lived in Asia since 1987. A native of the state of Georgia, he attended the The University of Georgia's Henry Grady School of Journalism, which hands out journalism's prestigious Peabody Awards. His works have appeared in The China Post, The South China Morning Post, The International Herald Tribune and many magazines throughout Asia and the world. He is fluent in Mandarin and has appeared on television and radio for decades in Taiwan, Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau.

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