Six police officers at Nonthaburi’s Muang district police station have tested positive for COVID-19 and six more are in isolation since the station has become busier than usual, due to the number of reporters following the story of the drowning of TV actress Nida Patcharaveerapong last Thursday night.
The deputy enquiry officer at the station, told Thai PBS today (Wednesday) that three commissioned duty officers, another commissioned officer, a non-commissioned duty officer and a driver are infected with COVID-19, according to results of rapid antigen tests, which are yet to be confirmed by RT-PCR tests.
He said he thinks the infections are the result of as many as 50 reporters, witnesses related to the Nida case and other people being at the police station and in the air-conditioned rooms since last weekend.
“We don’t know what to do, because the reporters want to get a story,” said the officer, adding that he will have to wait for his superior to decide whether safety measures need to be imposed as a precautionary step.
It remains unknown whether any of the reporters at the police station are infected.
A religious ceremony was held this morning at Pibulsongkram Pier to pay tribute to the late TV actress, attended by family members and close friends.
Thailand’s official daily COVID-19 infections surged to an all-time high of 24,932 last Friday before declining slightly, with 22,197 cases confirmed by RT-PCR tests recorded today.
Meanwhile, the Khuean Srinagarindra national park has ordered all accommodation services in the park to be closed, including camping grounds around Huai Mae Khamin waterfall in the Srisawat district of Kanchanaburi province, from today until March 14th, after four park officials were found to be infected with coronavirus. Several other park officials have also been isolated.
The waterfall, however, remains open to the public from 8am until 4.30pm every day, but visitors are required to comply strictly with the basic safety measures.
