SRT governor tests positive

The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) governor Nirut Maneephan has tested positive for Covid-19 while the test results of several other senior transport officials have come back negative.

Transport official were forced to take the Covid-19 tests after Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob was confirmed to have contracted the virus on Wednesday. Mr Nirut is compiling the timeline of his whereabouts leading up to his infection for health authorities for further investigation.

Among senior transport officials who came into close contact with Mr Saksayam were permanent secretary for transport Chayatham Phromsorn, deputy permanent secretary Sorapong Paitoonpong, Department of Highways director-general Sarawut Songwilai and Department of Land Transport chief Jirut Visaljit. This group of officials tested negative for the virus.

After Mr Saksayam’s infection was confirmed, a large number of people who attended an anniversary party at Bhumjaithai’s head office on Tuesday took the tests and self-isolated. They included sixty-one Bhumjaithai Party MPs and six Democrat MPs, including Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Chalermchai Sri-on.

Paradorn Prissanananthakul, spokesman of the Bhumjaithai Party, said the MPs and party officials attending the event tested negative and would take the second test in seven or 10 days. They would self-quarantine for the time being.

Mr Saksayam, who is being treated at Buri Ram Hospital, yesterday posted a selfie and gave an update of his symptoms. The transport minister and the Bhumjaithai secretary-general said that he no longer had a fever and his oxygen level was 96%. He said he did not experience any loss of smell or taste.

About 100 army personnel deployed during a drafting process in Khon Kaen and Chon Buri have been quarantined for 14 days after actor Thiti “Bank” Mahayotharak tested positive. The actor reported for military conscription in Khon Kaen before testing positive.