Provincial governors told to keep close watch on infections in workplaces

The Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has instructed all provincial governors to keep a closer watch on COVID-19 infections in factories and other work places after they have, of late, become hotbeds for cluster infections as 2,631 new cases are reported in Thailand today (Friday).

CCSA Assistant Spokesperson Dr. Apisamai Srirangsan said today that a new cluster of COVID-19 infections has been found at a poultry processing plant in Lam Luk Ka district of Pathum Thani province, where 854 of 2,073 workers tested since May 31^st were found to be infected.

In Simummuang market, also in Pathum Thani, 1,569 (7%) of 22,412 migrant workers from Myanmar, the Lao PDR and Cambodia, who went through active screening between May 7^th and June 2^nd, also tested positive for the virus.

In Phetchaburi province, Dr. Apisamai said that the infection cluster at an electronics factory in Khao Yoi district has already spread to 11 other provinces. In Samut Prakan province, a cluster has been linked to the fish cannery in Bang Poo district.

She said that the Disease Control Department is concerned that infections in factories in one province tend to spread to other factories in numerous other provinces, adding that the crowded conditions in worker housing facilities, the sharing of drinking vessels, the common use of water dispensers and socialising are the causes of widespread infections among factory workers.

Cumulative infections, since April 1^st, are 143,116, including 93,271 recoveries. The death toll in the same period has increased to 1,083, including 31 cases today.

Of the today’s deaths today, 20 are in Bangkok, 4 in Samut Prakan, 2 in Chiang Mai and 1 each in Kamphaeng Phet, Chanthaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Roi Et and Uthai Thani.  The oldest is 97  and the youngest 17.

Regarding Thai arrivals from Cambodia, Dr. Apisamai said the CCSA has instructed the Labour Ministry to investigate whether any of them went to Cambodia illegally, reportedly to work in casinos, adding that such arrivals are on the increase and there is a potential for them to be carriers.