COVID-19: Nine More Thai Returnees From Myanmar Test Positive

BANGKOK, Dec 7 (Bernama) -- Thailand has recorded 21 new COVID-19 cases, including nine Thai nationals returned from Myanmar’s border town of Tachileik, and zero fatalities over the last 24 hours, bringing the tally to 4,107 cases with 60 deaths. In a statement Monday, the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) said the nine Thais, who worked at an entertainment outlet in Tachileik, entered the kingdom via the border checkpoint at Mae Sai district in Chiang Rai. It said the patients were receiving treatment in Chiang Rai Prachanukroh Hospital in Chiang Rai. The other 12 cases were also imported, comprising six Thais - four returned from the United Kingdom and two from Singapore - and six foreigners - two from the United States, and one each from Estonia, India, Germany and the United Arab Emirates. Meanwhile, Chiang Rai governor Prachon Prachsakul said six new COVID-19 cases were reported - all Thai returnees from Tachileik. However, the new cases have not been included in today’s tally. He said the Thai women worked at two entertainment outlets in Tachileik and returned home on Wednesday and Saturday. They were receiving treatment at Prachanukroh Hospital, he said at a press conference today. On Nov 24, a Thai woman who returned from Myanmar, and bypassed immigration checks and compulsory quarantine, was tested positive for COVID-19 days later Following contact tracing, the public health authorities found more Thai women crossing the border and dodging compulsory quarantine. To date, there are at least 38 cases linked to Thais who returned from Tachileik, including 16 who sneaked into the kingdom bypassing immigration checks, 14 in quarantine facility and two local transmissions. The public health authorities are stepping up contact tracing to prevent a new wave of COVID-19 outbreak in the kingdom. -- BERNAMA