The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not yet updated its travel advice for Thailand amid the coronavirus outbreak, but health officials are monitoring the situation closely. The virus, which originated in a market in Wuhan, China, has now spread to several countries, including Thailand, where four cases have been confirmed.
Thailand is a popular holiday destination for British travellers, but concerns have been raised after analysis showed that Bangkok is the top international destination for travellers from Wuhan. John Grant from OAG, a schedule analyst firm, noted that nearly 107,000 seats are available on flights from Wuhan to Thailand in the first three months of 2020, with around 545 arrivals in Bangkok each day.
Public Health England (PHE) has upgraded the risk of coronavirus from very low to low. Dr Nick Phin, Deputy Director of the National Infection Service at PHE, advised travellers to maintain good hygiene and avoid visiting animal markets or people with respiratory symptoms. He urged anyone developing symptoms within 14 days of visiting Wuhan to seek medical attention and inform health services of their travel history.
To contain the spread, the UK will begin monitoring flights from China, including three direct flights per week from Wuhan to Heathrow. Passengers on these flights will be screened in a separate area in Terminal 4, with a health team providing advice and support to those feeling unwell.
