The opposition has lambasted the government after foreign nationals were allowed to enter Thailand without enforced quarantine and claims there might have been other, unreported arrivals slipping through the net.
Opposition members from the Seri Ruam Thai and Move Forward parties took to the floor in the House of Representatives after filing a motion demanding the government explain the movements of an Egyptian delegation, including a soldier confirmed to be infected with Covid-19, which was found to have visited shopping malls in Rayong.
The soldier was shown on CCTV footage to have visited the Passione Shopping Destination mall in Muang district with some of his colleagues, four of whom then also took taxis and shopped in the nearby CentralPlaza department store.
A Seri Ruam Thai list MP, Rewat Wisarutvech, targeted a motion at Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, saying the incident had made people anxious and pointed out that while the government had implored people not to drop their guard and stick to Covid-19 preventative measures, the Egyptian military visitors had eluded the attention of the authorities.
"It demonstrates a recklessness on the government's part. It obviously appeased some VIPs but it treated Thai people with contempt," Dr Rewat said.
Gen Prayut and the CCSA have apologised for the oversight and the PM on Tuesday ordered the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) to review the easing of restrictions and plug loopholes in disease control measures.
Besides diplomats and their families, flights from foreign countries, including military aircraft, will have to also follow those measures from now on, said the prime minister, who publicly criticised the Egyptian visitors for being irresponsible.
Dr Rewat said, however, that an apology fell short of rectifying the damage done. "Is the prime minister willing to resign over the incident?" he said.
Responding on the prime minister's behalf, Deputy Public Health Minister Sathit Pitutecha said the 27 Egyptian military visitors were among the 11 groups of foreign nationals exempt from confined quarantine.
However, when such privileged visitors arrive at their lodgings, they are supposed to remain there, said Mr Sathit.
In the Egyptian visitors' case, although they violated the self-enforced quarantine requirement, they wore face masks the entire time they spent at the mall and did not dine or come into contact with other shoppers there.
Nine people who interacted with the soldiers have been tested, including the drivers who took them from the airport to the hotel in central Rayong plus hotel staff and maids.
