Samut Sakhon controls may be eased next week; new hotspot in Bangkok’s Pathumwan
Health officials will discuss easing disease-control measures in Samut Sakhon after February 15, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) said on Thursday. Health officials are now changing their outbreak-management plan in Samut Sakhon, which is at the centre of the outbreak that emerged in mid-December. The province logged 129 cases on Thursday as the infection rate continues to drop.
A total of 1,880 locations had been screened in Samut Sakhon, including factories, fresh markets and communities, said CCSA spokesperson Apisamai Srirangsan.
“Bubble-and-seal” measures had been imposed on nine factories and 42,424 people where more than 10 per cent infection had been found. Health officials are now testing around 8,000 residents daily for natural immunity to see whether they can be allowed to return home.
Praising success in containing the nationwide outbreak, Apisamai said there were now five orange-zone provinces (second highest restrictions) and seven red provinces (highest restrictions).
In Bangkok, a cluster of 16 cases had been found at Chulalongkorn University, she said. Risk analysis indicates such infections in the workplace result from complacency among personnel and a lack of precautions such as temperature checks. Finger scanners were identified as a possible source of transmission, as well as conditions in condominiums, dormitories, etc.
Pathumwan district, where Chulalongkorn University is located, has been declared a Covid-19 hotspot. People in the area are urged to take special care of themselves and use the MorChana platform for updates on the timelines of infected cases in the area.
