By Linda Khoo
BANGKOK, Dec 21 (NNN-Bernama) — Thailand will test more than 10,000 people in the next three days after a record hike in COVID-19 cases on Saturday, linked to a seafood market in Samut Sakhon, near here.
To date, a total of 689 COVID-19 cases have been linked to a shrimp seller in the southwest province of Samut Sakhon including two cases in Bangkok, two in Nakhon Pathom and three in Samut Prakan, according to the Public Health Ministry.
Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) spokesman, Thaweesilp Wissnuyothin said the health authorities were to conduct 10,300 tests in eight provinces from today until Wednesday.
“The active case detection exercise for COVID-19 will continue in Samut Sakhon, where the outbreak occurred and in nearby provinces such as Samut Songkram, Nakhon Pathom, Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi and Kanchanaburi,” he said at a press conference here Sunday.
Over the last 24 hours, Thailand has recorded more than 600 new COVID-19 cases, including 516 reported on Saturday night.
At a separate press conference, Samut Sakhon’s deputy provincial governor, Surasak Polyangsong said 146 migrant workers tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday.
On Dec 16, a 67-year-old woman, who sells shrimp at the market with no history of travelling abroad had tested positive.
Following a surge in COVID-19 cases, a curfew has been imposed in Samut Sakhon from 10 pm to 5 am.
All schools, sport stadiums, boxing stadiums, nurseries, beauty salons are among those closed and only the take-away food operation is allowed.
Besides that, migrant workers are not allowed to leave Samut Sakhon while Thai citizens can leave only after informing the authorities their names and destination.
— NNN-BERNAMA
