Thai Airways Causes Confusion with COVID19 Certificate Requirement

Thai Airways has announced that travellers from high risk areas need to produce a certificate, signed by a doctor, to prove that they do not have the novel coronavirus which causes COVID19.

In a statement issued on Monday, Thai Airways said that passengers flying from Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, Milan, Pusan, Rome, Seoul and Shanghai, must present the doctor's certificate to check-in staff before a boarding pass would be issued.

Thai Airways has also said that such passengers will need to fill in a T8 form issued under the Communicable Disease Act B.E. 2558 and give it to a Disease Control Officer at the quarantine office at the airport where they land in Thailand.

This statement has caused a lot of worry and confusion amongst travellers, and even doctors. In an interview with RTHK, Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan from the Centre for Health Protection in Hong Kong said she was not sure how people could prove they are free of the novel coronavirus and that they are suitable to fly.

“Health proof for flights… I’ve never heard of it. I don’t know how people can prove they’re free of the novel coronavirus, because the tests are not available at private clinics," said Dr. Chuang.

The World Health Organisation currently issues these guidelines to help international airports, ports and ground crossings manage the detection and treatment of ill travellers suspected of COVID19 infection.

The WHO states that the most common symptoms of COVID19, which can appear between 2 and 14 days after exposure, are "fever, tiredness, and dry cough. Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea. These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some people become infected but don’t develop any symptoms and don't feel unwell. Most people (about 80%) recover from the disease without needing special treatment. Around 1 out of every 6 people who gets COVID19 becomes seriously ill and develops difficulty breathing. Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes, are more likely to develop serious illness. People with fever, cough and difficulty breathing should seek medical attention".

As of 10am CET on 9 March 2020, the WHO reported that globally there were 109,577 confirmed cases (3,993 new) and 3,809 deaths (225 new). Outside of China, there were 28,673 confirmed cases (3,948 new), 686 deaths (202 new) and 104 countries/territories/ areas (3 new) have been affected. The three new countries are Bangladesh, Albania and Paraguay.

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