Thailand has taken high-level measures to monitor and prevent the spread of a new coronavirus after China's public health authority confirmed the virus can spread from human to human.
The Ministry of Public Health said China's decision to put Wuhan -- the epicentre of the new coronavirus outbreak -- and Huanggang on lockdown will benefit Thailand.
According to Reuters, Wuhan's local government shut down all urban transport networks and suspended outgoing flights from the city at 10am local time on Thursday, adding the government has told citizens not to leave the city unless for special circumstances.
The World Health Organisation called a new coronavirus that has killed 18 people in China and infected around 650 globally "an emergency in China" on Thursday, but stopped short of declaring the epidemic of international concern.
So far, Thailand has confirmed four cases of the coronavirus which has claimed 17 lives.
One of the patients with the virus is a 73-year-old Thai woman who is now being treated in Nakhon Pathom.
