The Office of Private Education Commission (Opec) has ordered the closure of an international school in Don Muang district after learning that more than 500 students and teachers had returned from a country hit by Covid-19.

Attapon Truektrong, secretary-general of Opec, said the school's management had instructed the group, which includes 60 teachers, to stay at home and self-quarantine following their return on Feb 23. However, Opec asked the management to close the school and switch to online classes.

Mr Attapon added that Opec will hold a meeting today with privately-run schools which usually organise field trips abroad to make sure they strictly follow the health guidelines to help contain the spread of Covid-19. 

He said his office was monitoring the situation at the Phraharuthai Donmuang School in Don Muang district after an eight-year-old pupil tested positive for Covid-19. Tests on pupils and teachers who had close contact with the boy have so far been negative.

Meanwhile, a privately-run school in Rayong will also close today for "cleaning" as a precautionary measure after it was rumoured that a pupil who returned from a trip to Japan had fallen ill.

Ratree Khumyat, the acting director of Anuban Taksin Rayong International School, said the child has tested negative for the virus but is staying at home for self-quarantine. Despite this, the school's management has decided to suspend classes today for disinfection.