THE Israeli tourist who fled a hotel in Sukhumvit area while waiting for his Covid test result that turned out positive and then went to Pattaya and on to Koh Samui surrendered to police on the island this afternoon but said he was not infected according to a second test he underwent on the island, Thai Rath newspaper and Thethaiger.com said.
Mr. Ohad Baruch, 29, was found sitting at Samui Pier restaurant in Bo Phut district and was taken under security to Koh Samui Hospital to undergo another RT-PCR Covid test with the result expected to be issued within six hours. If he is cleared by this test he will be released.
Police said upon being questioned the tourist told them that he broke quarantine rules because he believed he was not infected with this being verified by a second test he underwent at a Koh Samui hospital.
This result conflicts with the one issued by a Bangkok hospital which led to police taking him to another Koh Samui hospital for a third test to verify his health status with this currently underway.
The Israeli tourist had arrived in Thailand on Dec. 17 at 12.10 a.m. and was quarantined at a Sukhumvit hotel to await the result of his Covid test. However at 1 p.m. the same day he walked out of the hotel pulling his bag behind him and took a cab to Pattaya.
During this time the Bangkok hospital confirmed that this tourist was infected with coronavirus.
He had tried to check into a hotel in Pattaya without showing his passport or a Covid test result but was refused a room there. He then went to many areas in Chonburi province and returned to Bangkok on Dec. 19.
From here he hired a black Toyota Alphard van to travel south with a picture of him being taken in Chumphon province on Dec. 20.
On the same day he reached Surat Thani province and took a ferry to Koh Samui where he stayed in a hotel.
Meanwhile Thonglor police had issued an arrest warrant for him on the allegation of violating regulations under Section 9 of the Emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situations B.E.2548 (2005).
Mr. Niwet Saksa, Koh Samui District Public Health Assistant, said he had been notified that an Israeli tourist had come to the island and many agencies joined forces to search for him. He was picked up at this restaurant after contacting the authorities to surrender.
CAPTION:
The Israeli tourist surrenders at the Koh Samui restaurant. Photos: Thai Rath
Read earlier report: Police chasing infected Israeli tourist who escaped from Sukhumvit hotel
One Reply to “Israeli tourist claims being cleared of infection by second test on Koh Samui ”