Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has called a special meeting of the Centre of COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Thursday, to discuss measures needed to cope with the current COVID-19 outbreak, which has now spread to 24 provinces.
CCSA spokesman Dr. Taweesin Wissanuyothin said today (Wednesday) that the meeting will also discuss appropriate ways to look after millions of foreign migrant workers, including those infected.
Meanwhile, the CCSA today recorded 46 new COVID-19 cases in Thailand, including 39 locally acquired and seven among arrivals from abroad in state quarantine.
The 39 new locally acquired cases include 11 in Bangkok, 3 in Nakhon Pathom, 2 each in Kamphaeng Phet, Tak, Prachin Buri, Ayutthaya, Samut Prakan and Saraburi, 1 each in Phetchabun, Krabi, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Phuket and Suphan Buri.
Infection rates in the Muang district of Samut Sakhon, among those tested, are 44% at the central shrimp market, 14% at the Thalay Thai market and 1% at fish markets. The average infection rate is 22% and decreasing.
Dr. Taweesin said the Public Health Ministry has set a target to test 10,000 people, but he conceded that the most worrisome is not the Myanmar migrant workers, but several thousand Thai vendors who visit Samut Sakhon to buy seafood.
He also appealed to provincial governors to provide updated information about infections in their provinces to the CCSA first, before releasing information to the media, to avoid confusion over the actual number of infections.
The number of infections, since December 17th, as compiled by Thai PBS is as follows:
- Samut Sakhon – 1,086
- Bangkok – 10
- Nakhon Pathom – 8
- Samut Prakan – 7
- Suphan Buri – 7
- Suphan Buri – 7
- Samut Songkhram – 6
- Saraburi – 5
- Nonthaburi – 4
- Pathum Thani – 3
- Nakhon Ratchasima – 3
- Kamphaeng Phet – 2
- Ayutthaya – 2
- Prachuap Khiri – 1
- Phuket – 1
- Khon Kaen – 1
- Krabi – 1
- Chainat – 1
- Phetchaburi – 1
- Uttradit – 1
- Ratchaburi – 1
- Nakhon Si Thammarat – 1
- Chachoengsao – 5
