Bangkok provides free Covid-19 testing to workers in risky groups until May 31
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will provide free Covid-19 testing to people in professions at high risk of infection, and who are not covered by the social security system, from May 5-31 at the Bangkok Youth Centre (Thai -Japan) in Din Daeng district, Governor Aswin Kwanmuang said on Saturday.
On April 16, the BMA had started free testing of social security members – under Article 33, 39 and 40 of the Social Security Act – in a bid to curb the spread of the virus.
The youth centre is capable of testing 2,000 people per day.
From April 16 to 30, a total of 32,453 have come to the centre to get tested, of whom 808 tested positive, or 2.5 per cent.
“From May 5, workers who are not under social security can receive free tests at the youth centre, with priority given to those that have contact with several people, such as food delivery staff, public vehicle drivers, taxi drivers -- both cars and bikes,” he said.
Aswin added that the BMA was procuring additional vaccines for staff of agencies in the province whose work might expose them to the virus, such as teachers, Don Mueang airport staff, Metropolitan Electricity Authority staff and road sweepers in 50 districts.
“We estimate that there are about 500,000 people in these groups who need to be vaccinated for their safety,” he added.
