CHON BURI: Seventy-seven Thai students have been put in quarantine at a navy reception centre in Sattahip district after returning on a flight from coronavirus-hit Italy yesterday morning.
A total of 83 students arrived at U-tapao airport in Sattahip on Flight TG-945 from Rome at 6.15am.
They had been studying in Italy on a scholarship from the American Field Service (AFS).
They were met on arrival by Adm Luechai Ruddit, the navy chief, and Suthep Phetmak, an inspector-general of the Public Health Ministry.
They were taken by bus to the reception centre, where they underwent a screening process and had their belongings sterilised.
They were then separated by gender and placed in quarantine.
After a preliminary physical examination, six were sent to the Sirikit Hospital of the navy's Medical Department for further observation, leaving 77 at the naval reception centre.
The navy received an urgent assignment on Saturday to pick up the students upon their return.
Meanwhile, Anudit Nakornthap, secretary-general of the Pheu Thai Party, said yesterday he understood why some Palang Pracharath MPs did not want the House to host an extraordinary meeting to discuss the country's crisis, especially the Covid-19 outbreak, as they were worried the government would be criticised for mishandling the situation.
Capt Anudit said, however, he wanted the government MPs to see sincerity of the opposition who wanted to use the proposed parliamentary session to help seek ways to deal with the Covid-19 outbreak.
He said he will move ahead with the party's plan to seek support from all parliamentarians for the move if he can garner one third of all parliamentarians -- 246 people.