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Thai govt to pay for Sars deaths
09/04/2003 08:30 - (SA)
Bangkok - Thailand's government will pay compensation of one million baht ($24 000) to the families of any citizen who contracts Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars) locally and dies form the viral disease, several newspapers reported on Wednesday.
The newspapers based their reports on a live televised speech Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra had given late on Tuesday night.
His government would offer the compensation in a bid to stop the anxiety and rumours over Sars that have gripped the population over the past few days, Thaksin was quoted by the reports as saying during his broadcast.
However, he said the government might not have to live up to its promise at all, because all Sars cases recorded so far in the kingdom had contracted the potentially deadly virus abroad and not in Thailand.
"I am confident the government will not have to pay a single baht since the only places where (Thai citizens) can infect themselves is in at-risk countries," he was quoted as saying in the reports.
Of seven recorded Sars cases in Thailand there have been two deaths. The other five have since been been discharged from hospitals after fully recovering from the disease.
Of nine other suspected Sars cases that were monitored, six proved to be Sars-negative and have been sent home.
Thaksin said he was certain Thailand would not become a risk country due to the stringent security measures the government has implemented.
Travellers arriving from Sars-stricken countries such as Canada, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and Vietnam are put through meticulous medical screening procedures at all border crossings, but particularly at Bangkok's international airport.
Foreigners displaying symptoms of Sars would be either quarantined or immediately sent back to their home countries, while Thais showing symptoms would be quarantined.
Foreign visitors who are not displaying any symptoms but have arrived from risk countries are required to wear facial masks during the first two weeks of their stay in Thailand.
Thais returning from risk countries should remain at home and avoid going out for the first two weeks after arrival.
Offenders ignoring or dismissing the regulations are eligible to heavy fines, even imprisonment. - Sapa-DPA
- SAPA
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