BANGKOK (THE NATION/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Thailand's Public Health Ministry has advised Thais planning trips to Singapore and Japan to postpone their visits, citing the rising number of people infected by the coronavirus in the two countries.

Permanent secretary at the Public Health Ministry Dr Sukhum Kanchanapima said that the virus outbreak in the two countries had reached the third stage where local people who have no record of meeting with Chinese people are found to be infected.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Thailand rose to 35 on Monday (Feb 17) as another Chinese tested positive.

Thais who visited Japan and Singapore in the past 14 days, and have fever, have to meet doctors and will get treatment free of charge, said Dr Sukhum.

He said the situation in Thailand is at the second stage, but it must brace for the advent of the third stage.