Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn, the digital economy and society minister, has been diagnosed with Covid-19, putting other Palang Pracharath Party MPs at risk of being infected.
Chaiwut: Caughtvirus during trip
Mr Chaiwut said on Monday that after feeling unwell he took an RT-PCR test and the result was positive for Covid-19. What variant he caught was unknown.
The minister sought treatment at a hospital where he complained of a fever and a headache. Doctors found that the infection had not reached his lungs.
Mr Chaiwut believed he caught the virus while in Chiang Mai on Jan 20.
He said he would take part in a cabinet video conference yesterday, but would not be able to join PPRP leader Gen Prawit Wongsuwon in an evening campaign walk in the Laksi area ahead of the Jan 30 by-election in Bangkok's Constituency 9.
Government chief whip Nirote Sunthornlekha, a PPRP MP for Nakhon Sawan, said there could be a risk since he had been in close contact with Mr Chaiwut while at a meeting of party MPs last week. After the meeting, they attended House meetings on Jan 20-21, putting all MPs in the House at the time at risk.
Asked whether he would seek to postpone this week's House meetings, Mr Nirote said he would discuss the matter with House Speaker Chuan Leekpai, adding he would ask PPRP MPs to take RT-PCR tests.
Atthakorn Sirilatayakorn, a PPRP list-MP and member of the government whip, said there would be a video-conference meeting of government whips tomorrow.
Mr Atthakorn also believed Mr Chaiwut being infected could lead to further problems. All PPRP MPs who attended last week's party meeting might have to be quarantined. This would mean none of the bills on the House agenda would be passed.