A South Korean soldier has tested positive for Covid-19 after returning home from Thailand.

Over 170 Thai military officers are currently under quarantine after attending a meeting along with the South Korean officer during a Cobra Gold training exercise last week in Rayong.

Dr Opas Kankawinphong, acting director-general of the Department of Disease Control (DDC), said out of the 235 people who came into close contact with the solider, 210 are Thais who were considered at risk of having contracted Covid-19 from the South Korean national.

Dr Opas said 194 of the 210 had been tested for Covid-19, and 163 tested negative. The rest are either waiting for their results (31) or waiting to be tested (16).


The people who had been in close contact with the infected soldier included 181 military officers, five police officers, two United States diplomats and 14 hotel employees, he said, referring to the 202 people initially believed to be at-risk after coming in close contact with the South Korean.

Dr Opas noted that 33 additional people were now considered to be at risk.

A Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTAF) spokesman said the South Korean tested negative for the virus and showed no symptoms before departing Thailand.

The officer arrived on Oct 17 and was tested while isolated in an alternative state quarantine (ASQ) facility in Bangkok until Nov 1.

He attended the meeting and military exercises on Nov 2-6.

The officer is said to have not left the quarantine facility during his stay. However, he tested positive for the coronavirus after arriving at Incheon Airport on Nov 8.