The Chiang Mai COVID-19 Situation Command Centre has ordered the Muang Mai and Sor Thor Gao wet markets to remain closed until at least October 22nd after 118 more COVID-19 cases were found, raising the total in the cluster to 478.

After the finding of new cases, Dr. Songyos Khamchai, chief of communicable disease control at the Chiang Mai provincial health office, advised anyone in a high-risk group who was in contact with traders at the market, as well as the traders themselves, to isolate for 14 days as a precautionary measureto help prevent the spread of the disease.

According to the command centre, 214 new infections were recorded in Chiang Mai on Tuesday, including three who came from Bangkok and two from Lampung province, with the rest being locally-acquired cases.

Dr. Songyos said that two other new clusters have emerged. One is in Ban Khun Chang Khien, where 24 cases have been recorded to date, mostly among family and community members, and the other is at a welding shop in Makham Luang sub-district, San Pa Tong district, where eight cases have been reported.

He advised members of the public to avoid high-risk areas and social gatherings, such as parties, and anyone who visited the Muang Mai or Sor Thor Gao markets to report for COVID-19 tests.

Four more venues have been declared high risk by the provincial health office. They include a church in Pa Dad sub-district, Muang district, the welding shop in Makham Luang sub-district, a mango orchard in Mae Ngon sub-district of Fang district and a DIY store. People who have visited these places this month have been told to monitor their health and immediately seek testing if they develop symptoms.