New confirmed patient brings total to 42. Health ministry announce tough new measures.

The Thai Public Health Ministry has confirmed a new infection in the country, bringing the national total to 42. 28 patients have already recovered with no deaths recorded in Thailand from the virus.

At the same time the health ministry has now designated Coronavirus Covid-19 as a dangerous communicable disease, a designation which takes effect tomorrow. The announcement gives authorities sweeping powers to contain the spread of the virus in Thailand. The national committee on communicable diseases says they’ve agreed to list Covid-19 as a “dangerous communicable disease” in order to give health authorities opportunities to respond more quickly to any outbreaks or containments.

The announcement empowers officials to order people suspected of being infected with Covid-19 to undergo treatment and put them in quarantine, and to close venues affected by the coronavirus, among other measures.

The “dangerous communicable disease” announcement, signed by Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul was published in the Royal Gazette today.

The latest victim in Thailand is a 21 year old salesman whose job is said to have exposed him to foreign tourists.

Amongst the other announcements the Ministry plans to hand out free face masks from Monday, with 100,000 pieces a day, or a maximum of three per person. They will be distributed at the ministry’s offices in Nonthaburi, on the west side of the Chao Phraya.

Face masks and hand-sanitising gel have also been categorised as price-controlled goods after demand skyrocketed in recent weeks. There has been many reports of price-gouging and the government have taken measures to arrest and prosecute offenders. Found guilty of overcharging, price-gougers could face a fine of up to 140,000 baht and/or a jail term of up to seven years.

HERE’S today’s world coronavirus update with all the latest stats and stories.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post