BANGKOK (THAILAND) – Thai health authorities on Friday confirmed that another coronavirus infection had been detected in the country. It was found in an Uzbek professional soccer player. The virus had reared its head for the first time after not having detected the same in more than three-months about eight days ago.
Health officials told a news conference that the man was found positive after a mandatory pre-match test on Tuesday. It was diagnosed in spite of the player completing quarantine on August 27 after three prior negative tests. The man, 29, arrived in Thailand on August 13.
Yong Poovorawan, a virology expert from Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn University, said the virus incubation period of the man would have lasted longer than 14 days. There were lesser chances of the virus being transmitted through a domestic source.
Yong said, “I believe he was infected abroad.”
Thailand has managed to keep coronavirus cases to just 3,461, and a majority of which have recovered. The country has reported 58 deaths.
Authorities have since tested hundreds of people who may have come in contact with the man, a DJ who was recently imprisoned.
Sophon Iamsirithaworn, director of Bureau of General Communicable Diseases, said there were 43 other people who had contact with the Uzbek soccer player. Everyone had tested negative for the virus and were undergoing quarantine.