Thai Health Minister Says Sick Prime Minister Doesn’t Have Coronavirus

(Bloomberg) -- Thailand’s health minister denied that the country’s Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha may have the novel coronavirus after becoming unwell.

Prayuth canceled some engagements Thursday after getting symptoms resembling a cold, government spokeswoman Narumon Pinyosinwat said. He continues to take telephone calls and do other types of work, she said.

“I’m taking sick leave today because of a little cold as per doctor’s orders,” Prayuth said on Twitter.

A day earlier, the premier had visited the main international airport in Bangkok to inspect screening measures for the virus. He was seen wearing a protective mask during the visit.

By Thursday afternoon, “#PrayforPrayuth” became the top-trending hashtag on Twitter in Thailand, with more than 35,000 tweets. Some of the posts wished him a speedy recovery, while others were less charitable.

Responding to questions from reporters, Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul rejected the suggestion that Prayuth may somehow have contracted the new disease.

Thailand has so far confirmed 14 cases of the infection in travelers from China. Officials have said they are monitoring another 135 people for the disease.

Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy faces a rocky period ahead because the virus is shaking the critical tourism sector.

To contact the reporter on this story: Siraphob Thanthong-Knight in Bangkok at rthanthongkn@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Sunil Jagtiani at sjagtiani@bloomberg.net, Margo Towie

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