Largest number of Corona Virus cases so far from returning citizens

Seventeen Thais who have just returned from the Middle East have been diagnosed with coronavirus-the largest amount of recent weeks infections.

Thirteen Thais returning from Kuwait, two from Qatar and two from Saudi Arabia screened positively while being kept under state quarantine, said Thursday Taweesin Visanuyothin, spokesman for the COVID-19 Situation Administration's government center.

"This is the significance of providing quarantines in the community," Taweesin said. "Some people ask, can't we allow them in, because our nation is clean? No. No. It is the responsibility of any Thai. We have to get the Thai people home.

In Thailand the total infected is 3,101. Most of last month's new infections involve "imported cases" among returnees from a variety of countries, from Russia to the U.S.A. and India.

A surge of infections was also linked to a Muslim pilgrimage back from Indonesia in April.

A state committee on Hajj pilgrimages today said that out of a total of 8,454 Thais who had registered to go to the Hajj in 2020, 5,773 had postponed it to next year and 1,016 had cancelled the trips altogether, while 1,665 said they would continue the journey in this year.

Source Khaosodenglish