Thai soldiers have been posted to make sure 107 visiting US troops staying in two Bangkok hotels remain under 14-day quarantine.
The move is to ensure there is no recurrence of the incident in Rayong when a Covid-19-infected Egyptian airman and his colleagues went out visiting malls. Two soldiers from the 2nd Cavalry Division have been stationed at the Conrad Hotel on Witthayu Road, and two others from the Special Warfare Division are at the Anantara Riverside Hotel, according to a Royal Thai Army press release issued yesterday.
The four soldiers are to help the hotels monitor the US soldiers, who are in quarantine from Aug 4-18. The two hotels are serving as alternative state quarantine (ASQ) facilities, and are providing three meals a day to the US servicemen, the statement said.
The army said information issued earlier by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), was wrong.
Media reports earlier said one of the hotels the soldiers were staying at was the Anantara Siam Hotel when in fact, it was the Anantara Riverside Hotel. The press release had asked media outlets to correct the information.
CCSA spokesman Taweesilp Visanuyothin yesterday said he misunderstood the information he received and had apologised to the Anantara Siam Hotel for the error.
According to the army press release, there are 107 visiting US soldiers. The US military was covering all expenses during their quarantine period, the statement said. Special flights arrived at U-Tapao airport in Rayong on Monday morning, carrying the US soldiers from Guam and Japan.
All went through a rigorous health check in compliance with guidelines issued by CCSA, Dr Taweesilp said on Monday.
The US soldiers are here for the SFAB SMEE joint drill with the army and the Balance Torch exercise with Thai troops.