Bangkok, 13 February, 2020 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) would like to assure that Thailand’s effective health surveillance systems for disease control are also being implemented at all ports in the Gulf of Thailand and Andaman Sea as part of the nationwide Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) prevention.
In addition to the surveillance protocol by fever screening of air passengers and crew members at airports across the country, the Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health has expanded the screening protocol to cover cruise passengers and crew members at five sea ports (Bangkok, Laem Chabang, Chiang Saen, Phuket and Ko Samui).
The sea ports’ health surveillance protocol is similar to the effective systems being implemented at Thai airports, focussing especially on cruise ships travelling from the COVID-19 affected areas.
For cruise ships travelling from affected areas with a scheduled arrival at a Thai port, the vessel must submit the relevant documents to the Department of Disease Control at least 24 hours before entering Thai waters. The documents include Information of Conveyance Arriving in Thailand; Maritime Information of Health; Maritime Declaration of Health; Last 10 Ports of Call; Questionnaire for Dangerous Communicable Diseases Screening; Crew List; and results of measuring the temperature of passengers and crew members (at least throughout the last seven days before entering Thailand).
The Department of Disease Control will evaluate the health risk factors based on the submitted documents and will work closely with other government agencies to ensure strict implementation of the surveillance protocol for disease control.
For cruise ships arriving in Thailand within 14 days after departing from affected areas and carrying suspected Patients under Investigation (PUI) for COVID-19, the vessel will be required to place the PUI in separate quarters and measure their temperatures regularly. The vessel will be asked to anchor at a designated area to allow Thai health personnel on board to conduct fever screening of all passengers and crew members. The PUI will be referred to local hospitals while the vessel will be disinfected and quarantined. If the lab results show negative for the COVID-19 for the PUI, and the vessel has been quarantined for more than 14 days (from the date that the last PUI was detected), the quarantine will be lifted and the vessel will be allowed to disembark at a Thai port.
The same protocol is performed for cruise ships arriving in Thailand after 14 days of departing from affected areas and has received permission to disembark at a Thai port. Thai health personnel will board the vessel to conduct fever screening of all passengers and crew members. If any PUI is detected, the vessel will be placed under a strict surveillance system as per the above-mentioned protocol.
If the health screening is clear, Thai health authorities will continue to monitor the health status of all passengers and crew members within the COVID-19 incubation period of 14 days. All cruise passengers and crew members will receive a Health Beware Card and daily recommendation for preventing the COVID-19.
[Photos] Thailand’s health surveillance protocol of cruise passengers and crew members of Costa Fortuna, arriving at Ko Samui’s sea port on 13 February, 2020, at 08.30 Hrs.
[Photos] Thailand’s health surveillance protocol of cruise passengers and crew members of Quantum of the Seas at Phuket’s Patong Beach on 13 February, 2020, at 10.00 Hrs.
TAT would like to reiterate that:
• Thailand has effective health surveillance systems for disease control.
• The Thai public and private sectors across the nation have stepped up hygiene measures.
• Thailand’s tourism and travel activities go on as usual.
Reminders: Local and international tourists are advised to adhere to everyday hygienic habits: avoid eating uncooked food; use serving spoons and wash your hands.
Useful contacts:
• Department of Disease Control Call Centre 1422
• TAT Contact Centre 1672
• Tourist Police 1155
