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Thailand finds first local cases of Indian coronavirus variant
The 15 are among many workers at the site in Laksi district of northern Bangkok who were found to be infected with the coronavirus, mostly the ordinary strain, according to Taweesilp Visanuyothin, spokesman of the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration.
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Protect and pollute: Commuters wearing protective face masks walk on Pratunam pier in Bangkok on Monday, after the government imposed strict restrictions including a US$636 fine for not wearing a mask in public. Single-use masks have raised environmental concerns as the materials are identified as primary sources of microplastic pollution. (AFP/Mladen Antonov)
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hailand's health authorities said Friday that the first community-acquired cases of the highly contagious Indian variant of the novel coronavirus have been detected among 15 workers at a construction site in Bangkok.
The 15 are among many workers at the site in Laksi district of northern Bangkok who were found to be infected with the coronavirus, mostly the ordinary strain, according to Taweesilp Visanuyothin, spokesman of the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration.
They have been hospitalized as health workers and investigators scramble to contain the outbreak, such as by suspending construction activity at the site and sealing off the workers camp, prohibiting entry and exit.
On May 10, Thailand reported its first cases of the Indian variant, detected from a Thai woman and her young son who traveled from Pakistan.
The variant was recorded for the first time in India last October, before spreading to other countries in South Asia such as Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh. In Southeast Asia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam have also detected it.
Meanwhile, the Thai government on Friday extended its state of emergency, which was set to expire at the end of this month, until July 31 to control the spread of the coronavirus.
Twelve extensions have been made since the emergency decree was first issued in March last year. Under the decree, people have been urged to stay at home and avoid gathering in groups.
Thailand on Friday reported 3,481 new COVID-19 cases and 32 new deaths, bringing its total to 123,066 cases with 735 deaths.
Of the total, 94,203 cases have resulted from the new wave of infections that began in early April.
Bangkok remains the epicenter of infections, with 35 clusters in 23 districts.
