The world is still reeling from the massive outbreak of the new coronavirus, now dubbed COVID-19, which originated in Wuhan, China and has spread throughout other countries throughout the world.
The rapid dissemination of the virus plus travel bans on flights coming from China has affected economic growth, and has impacted the tourism and hospitality industries within the region, including that of Thailand. While traveler fears can’t be avoided, the virus shouldn’t prevent tourists from enjoying a holiday in Bangkok, as long as they follow the guidelines shared by the World Health Organization (WHO).
According to WHO, regularly washing your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds or rubbing a generous amount of alcohol or hand sanitizer onto your hands is the best way to avoid infection. They also advise against picking your nose or putting your fingers in your mouth unless your hands have been cleaned thoroughly. When booking accommodations, make sure that your hotel follows strict procedures in preventing and handling the virus. (Most five-star hotels have installed hand sanitizer dispensers across the property.
It is also helpful to keep yourself updated through reliable sources, and to cooperate with the authorities at the airports if they ask to perform extra screening—this is particularly relevant for passengers arriving from Singapore and Japan.