Another coronavirus-infected patient has been cleared, discharged and sent back to China, bringing the total number of cleared patients to six.
Dr Sophon Iamsirithavorn, director-general of the Department of Disease Control, said 14 cases of coronavirus infection had been detected in Thailand as of noon Thursday.
All of them, believed to have contracted the disease abroad, were being treated at Bamrasnaradura Infectious Disease Institute in Nonthaburi, he said.
Six of the 14 patients were treated and discharged from hospital as of Thursday. The other eight remained at the hospital, said Dr Sophon.
The department chief insisted no one had contracted the virus in Thailand, dismissing the fear and rumours of a local outbreak.
From Jan 3-29, a total of 202 people were under observation. Of them, 31 were found to have suspicious symptoms through airport screenings and 171 others sought medical treatment voluntarily. Doctors had already allowed 67 of them to return home. Most were found to have suffered from influenza virus, he said.
Rumours earlier spread that two taxi drivers who had not recently been to China were infected with the coronavirus. The department chief said the pair, who were among the 202 people under observation, sought treatment two days ago after they had fever and respiratory symptoms. However, the doctor said their conditions were not severe.
Results of the lab tests on the 202 patients, conducted by the Department of Medical Service and King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, were expected to be known within two days, said Dr Sophon.
