Thailand has imposed a lockdown in a province close to Bangkok after greater than 1,000 folks examined constructive for the coronavirus following an outbreak, principally amongst migrant staff.
The Southeast Asian nation had been on the verge of eradicating the virus, however, late final week, a spike in instances emerged in Samut Sakhon province, forcing officers to behave quickly to aim to include the outbreak earlier than it might unfold all through the nation.
Addressing the state of affairs, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha sought to reassure the general public by claiming that the virus was below management. Nonetheless, he was clear that individuals should adhere to social distancing tips and put on Private Protecting Tools (PPE).
We should minimize the epidemic cycle shortly. We have already got expertise in dealing with it.
Most individuals who’ve been recognized as constructive instances by well being officers are reportedly asymptomatic, which makes testing and tracing a problem and forces authorities to conduct mass testing.
Lengthy traces of migrant staff have been seen within the area as folks waited to have Covid-19 exams. Though, there are considerations that testing websites do not need enough social distancing measures in place, and residing requirements within the space are “a catastrophe ready to occur,” in accordance with Human Rights Watch’s deputy Asia director, Phil Robertson.
Lengthy, cramped traces of #Myanmar migrant staff in Samut Sakhon province, ready for #Covid_19 exams after outbreak there. Lack of spacing seen right here is replicated in poor high quality, unsanitary housing these migrants are pressured to dwell in. Catastrophe ready to occur in #Thailand. pic.twitter.com/n8KObDKxi5
— Phil Robertson (@Reaproy) December 21, 2020
Whereas most coronavirus restrictions had been lifted within the nation, with life returning to regular for residents and strict measures in place for vacationers, the state of affairs in Samut Sakhon has pressured officers to order a lockdown and inform staff to stay at residence.
Because the begin of the pandemic, Thailand has solely recorded 4,331 instances and 60 deaths from the virus, making the brand new outbreak a big blow to the nation’s response to coronavirus.
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