Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said aircraft were on standby to evacuate Thais from virus-hit Wuhan but China has not given permission, saying it can control the situation.

"China confirmed that it can still control the virus... Flights must be approved by the destination country first... As long as the situation is under control, they are unnecessary. Otherwise, there would be a confusion of flights from other countries," the prime minister said on Monday.

He said he had ordered preparations for evacuation flights a month ago and teams of doctors were formed for the task. The Thai embassy in China was compiling a list of Thai people wishing to return home and planning meeting points.

Prayut said the government had the matter in hand and more announcements would be made. 

The Thai air force chief said C-130 planes were ready for a possible evacuation. A flight through Laos and Vietnam to Wuhan would take five hours.