The Public Health Ministry has warned of possible coronavirus outbreaks in areas with many Chinese visitors - such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket - after local transmission was confirmed in Japan.

The ministry issued the warning on Wednesday after a Japanese coach driver was reported to have been infected with the coronavirus while driving a Chinese tour group from Wuhan city.

The man had not been to Wuhan, where the deadly disease originated.

"An outbreak in Thailand is possible. As in Japan, it will start with local transmission on a very limited scale and later grow to the provincial level," said Dr Tanarak Plipat, deputy director-general of the Department of Disease Control.

"We are closely monitoring sensitive areas with large numbers of Chinese tourists such as Chiang Mai, Phuket and Bangkok, which are highly possible to be specific outbreak areas," he said.

The Public Health Ministry convened a meeting with provincial medical personnel on Thursday to prepare them for the possible provincial contagion.

People could protect themselves by washing their hands frequently and avoiding crowded areas, Dr Tanarak said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said the government would use commercial aircraft to evacuate Thais from China, because a military airplane was not allowed in.

The government was waiting for permission from China and the evacuation would begin with 65 people in Wuhan, he said.

He said officials were supplying food to Thais stranded in China.