Thai cabinet becomes COVID hot spot as ministers quarantine

Japanese ambassador also infected as contagious UK variant spreads in kingdom

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has tested negative for coronavirus but the transport minister has fallen ill with the disease and several are now in quarantine. © Reuters

MASAYUKI YUDA, Nikkei staff writer

April 7, 2021 19:54 JST

BANGKOK -- Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha's cabinet is becoming the latest hot spot of Thailand's third wave of COVID-19 infections after a minister fell ill with the virus.

Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, after developing a fever and being admitted to a hospital in Buriram, roughly 300 kilometers northeast of Bangkok.