Cleaners in hazmat suits disinfect Thailand's main airport this morning (March 12) after two workers there tested positive for coronavirus.

Surfaces were wiped clean and immigration desks were fumigated following confirmation that a passport official and a second airport worker had contracted the COVID-19 infection.

Department of Disease Control officer Sophon Iamsirithawon said the victims were a 21-year-old immigration officer - who may have handled thousands of tourists' passports inadvertently spreading the infection - and a 40-year-old man working at the Suvarnabhumi Airport serving Bangkok.

Airport boss Kittipong Kittikachorn said: ''We are sterilising every point in the passenger terminal. Inbound and outbound travellers are now also being scanned.''

Seventy people have been infected with coronavirus in Thailand with one death since the outbreak began.

Earlier today it emerged that 11 Thais have been diagnosed with the disease after they shared a glass for drinks and passed around the same cigarette at a recent party.

Health Ministry Secretary General Sukhum Kanchanapimai said the revellers were part of a group of 15 people, including a Chinese national from Hong Kong, who were partying in the capital.

Officials said they did not know if the traveller who arrived from Hong Kong had the virus but they confirmed it was the largest group infection of the virus reported in Thailand so far.

The country yesterday cancelled visa on arrivals for 18 countries and visa exemption for three others to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

The 18 places are: Bulgaria, Bhutan, China (including Taiwan), Cyprus, Ethiopia, Fiji, Georgia, India, Kazakhstan, Malta, Mexico, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, and Vanuatu.

Visa exemption will be cancelled for South Korea, Italy and Hong Kong, Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda said.

Cleaners in hazmat suits disinfect Thailand's main airport this morning (March 12) after two workers there tested positive for coronavirus.

Surfaces were wiped clean and immigration desks were fumigated following confirmation that a passport official and a second airport worker had contracted the COVID-19 infection.

Department of Disease Control officer Sophon Iamsirithawon said the victims were a 21-year-old immigration officer - who may have handled thousands of tourists' passports inadvertently spreading the infection - and a 40-year-old man working at the Suvarnabhumi Airport serving Bangkok.

Airport boss Kittipong Kittikachorn said: ''We are sterilizing every point in the passenger terminal. Inbound and outbound travellers are now also being scanned.''

Seventy people have been infected with coronavirus in Thailandwith one death since the outbreak began.

Earlier today it emerged that 11 Thais have been diagnosed with the disease after they shared a glass for drinks and passed around the same cigarette at a recent party.

Health Ministry Secretary General Sukhum Kanchanapimai said the revellers were part of a group of 15 people, including a Chinese national from Hong Kong, who were partying in the capital.

Officials said they did not know if the traveller who arrived from Hong Kong had the virus but they confirmed it was the largest group infection of the virus reported in Thailand so far.

The country yesterday cancelled visa on arrivals for 18 countries and visa exemption for three others to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

The 18 places are: Bulgaria, Bhutan, China (including Taiwan), Cyprus, Ethiopia, Fiji, Georgia, India, Kazakhstan, Malta, Mexico, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, and Vanuatu.

Visa exemption will be cancelled for South Korea, Italy and Hong Kong, Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda said.