A pork vendor, living in the Ampawa district of Samut Sakhon, has been blamed for the cluster infection of at least 87 people, scattered in and around Bangkok, Samut Sakhon, Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi and Suphan Buri provinces, said CCSA deputy spokesperson Dr. Apisamai Srirangsan on Monday.

During her daily briefing on COVID-19 situation in Thailand, she said that the female pork vendor has a stall at the Rodfai market in Samut Sakhon’s provincial town, but she travels to Potharam district of Ratchaburi every morning to collect meat from a wholesaler.

While shuttling back and forth between Ampawa and Potharam on daily basis, she was in contact with a number of people in the market, communities and from several provinces, she added.

The vendor tested positive for COVID-19 on January 28^th and, two days later, her daughter-in-law was also found to be infected, said Dr. Apisamai, adding that, 22 people in Samut Sakhon, 5 in Phetchaburi, 1 each in Bangkok, Ratchaburi and Suphan Buri have been found to be infected, with three other cases whose residential provinces are yet to be confirmed.

In Bangkok, she said that three people at Chulalongkorn University have tested positive for the virus, with nine others likely to be infected as well.  All have been told to remain confined to home for 14 days to observe their condition.

Dr. Apisamai said that the CCSA has discussed whether foreign tourists, or returning Thais, who have received vaccinations should be exempted for mandatory quarantine.

The issue remains unresolved because the CCSA feels that it has to be considered carefully and with advice from the World Health Organization, she said.

The CCSA, today, reported 186 new COVID cases, including 176 locally-acquired and 10 among arrivals from abroad in quarantine.  Of the 176 locally-transmitted cases, 163 are from Samut Sakhon, 3 are in Bangkok and the rest are in Nakhon Pathom, Pathum Thani, Phetchaburi and Samut Songkhram.

Cumulative infections, to date, are 23,557, with 17,410 recoveries.  6,068 are still being treated in hospitals or isolated in field hospitals under observation.

Dr. Apisamai also said that proactive screening will continue in Samut Sakhon province, but the number of people being randomly tested will be reduced to about 5,000 a day, or 100-150 people in each factory or community.