Public health minister Anutin Charnvirakul this morning confirmed that he has tested positive for COVID-19.

Upon his return from Europe, Anutin took an ATK test that indicated that he had contracted the disease which has defined his job since joining the cabinet following the 2019 election.

Anutin was in Paris June 19 and June 21 and then Geneva for an UNAIDS meeting from June 21 to June 24.

The 55-year-old deputy prime minister and public health minister returned to Thailand on Sunday where he experienced muscle pain and throat irritation. He will isolate himself for one week.

Anutin received his sixth COVID-19 vaccine just two weeks ago. He has received two doses of Sinovac, two of AstraZeneca, and two of the Pfizer vaccine.

Anutin was scheduled to discuss his vision for the legalization of cannabis next week at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand. As of publication time the event had not been canceled.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5143253&forum_id=2#44770682)

A Twitter account reportedly operated by Health minister Anutin Charnvirakul doubled down on his discriminatory remark on Western tourists, saying that they are “dirty” and more likely to spread coronavirus than Asians.

Writing in two Twitter posts on Thursday night, which were later deleted, the account said farangs – a slang for Caucasians – “never shower” and pose health risks to Thai population.

“It’s winter right now in Europe so these people are fleeing the cold in Thailand. Many are dressed dirtily and never shower. As hosts, we have to be careful. Even they don’t want to mingle with each other, closing their borders,” the post said.

“Today I’m in Chiang Mai. There’s pretty much no more Chinese tourists, only farangs. More than 90% of Thais wear masks, but not a single farang has one. This is why there’re so many infections in their countries,” another tweet from anutin_c said. “We have to be more careful of Westerners than Asians.”

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5143253&forum_id=2#44770686)