Thailand reports 1 new case of coronavirus, brings total to 33

FILE PHOTO: Lab technicians test patient samples for the novel coronavirus at the Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases of Thailand at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok on Feb 5, 2020. (AFP)

Thailand has recorded one new case of coronavirus, bringing the total in the country to 33 since January, a health ministry official said on Tuesday.

The new case is a 54-year-old Chinese woman from Wuhan who was put in quarantine after coming into contact with another Chinese virus patient while in Thailand, said Suwanchai Wattanayingcharoenchai, the director-general of the Department of Disease Control.

"The 33rd patient got sick from contact and her condition is not severe," he said.

The new patient is being treated at the Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute in Nonthaburi province, where she was admitted on Feb 6th.

The condition of a male bus driver who also had tuberculosis was stable, Mr Suwanchai added.

The driver, 70, was infected with the coronavirus while carrying Chinese tourists in his vehicle.

Ten of the infected people have recovered and returned home, while 23 are still being treated in hospital. Over 1,000 people in China have died from the virus but Thailand has not recorded a fatality so far.

Thailand has not imposed any bans on tourists or travelers to the country since the outbreak of the virus, though officials are screening passengers on flights from China on arrival and require a health certificate to enter the country from China.

However, the government has barred passengers from Holland America's cruise ship MS Westerdam from disembarking, the health minister said on Tuesday. [nL4N2AB0BC

Holland America, owned by Miami-based Carnival Corp says no one on board has the virus. Media reports say the ship carries 1,455 passengers and 802 crew, its voyage started in Singapore and its original destination was Yokohama, Japan.