Bangkok (NNT/VNA) – Thailand’s Ministry of ForeignAffairs is coordinating the repatriation of exchange students from Thailandcurrently in the United States, who are all expected to return this month.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Spokesman Cherdkiat Atthakorsaid on April 2 that the ministry is working with AFS International torepatriate Thai exchange students in the AFS programme who are currently in theUnited States, where the new coronavirus disease is now spreading fast.

He said some students who were in the US and other countrieshave already returned to Thailand by themselves prior to the surge of cases,however a big group of students still remains in the US, wanting to returnhome.

At present, there is no direct commercial flight operating fromthe US to Thailand, however some airlines are still operating connectingflights between the US and Thailand. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has beenlooking after exchange students in the US through the Royal Thai Embassy,especially in regards to their medical insurance. The ministry expects all ofthese students will be able to return to Thailand in the course of this month.

Thai nationals abroad who wish to return to Thailand mustprovide a valid Fit-to-Fly medical certificate and a document from the Thaiembassy in order to board a flight. They will be asked to self-quarantine for14 days upon arrival in Thailand.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health AnutinCharnvirakul, said on April 2 that children and youths returning from abroadwill be well taken care of, adding that exchange students from the US will betreated as a group in the same manner as the student group that previouslyreturned from Italy. They will be monitored even prior to their journey, duringtheir travels, and upon arrival where they will be transferred to a quarantinefacility at Sattahip Naval Base in Chonburi, or the Air Force’s Flying TrainingSchool in Nakhon Pathom.

He said the repatriation must be well coordinated between theAFS and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs./.