Feverish woman spits at health workers on train – VIDEO

A woman with a high fever spat on health officials who tried to offer her a face mask on a train bound for the northern province of Khon Kaen. The incident immediately sparked Covid-19 coronavirus fears and panic amongst the train’s other passengers. The 53 year old woman, whose name was withheld, boarded the train on the Kaeng Khoi-Khon Kaen route yesterday morning. She was not wearing a face mask, which already created fear among train passengers.

The chief of the Non Sung railway station was alerted at 8:50am. He called 3 staff from Non Sung Hospital, who arrived in full personal protective suits. They entered the carriage where the woman was sitting. One handed her a face mask and told her to go to a virus screening checkpoint at the railway station. She refused and shouted at them, then spat at them and tore the clothing of one of them.

This prompted the health workers to handcuff her and forcibly carry her out of the carriage for a temperature check. Her temperature was  37.9℃ and she was taken to hospital for further examination. The station chief then called a rescue team to disinfect the station all train carriages. It took about an hour before the train was able to resume its journey.

The hospital later told railway officials that the woman had a history of mental illness and had sought treatment in the past at a psychiatric hospital. She was placed in quarantine for 14 days as part of measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

To the relief of all, her test results were negative and was she was taken back to her home in Khon Kaen by relatives today.

SOURCES: Chiang Rai Times | Bangkok Post