Thousands have lined up for coronavirus testing in a province near Bangkok, while Thai authorities have struggled to contain an outbreak of the virus that has infected nearly 700 people.
The triple lines of mainly migrant workers stretched about 100 meters in only one place, in Mahachai, Samut Sakhon province, as the health officials of the mobile units took nasal methods. There were three locations in total in the area.
Nearby, razor blades and police guards blocked access to the Klang Koong Seafood Market, or Central Shrimp, one of Thailand’s largest, and its associated homes, the epicenter of the new cluster.
Thailand’s disease control department said Sunday they found 141 more cases related to the market outbreak. On Saturday, the department reported 548 cases, Thailand’s largest daily increase, which sent shockwaves through a country that has only seen a small number of infections in recent months due to strict controls borders and quarantine.
The new outbreak has been located at a 67-year-old shrimp seller in the seafood market.
Health officials say most of those infected are migrant workers from Myanmar. Workers live near the market in crowded accommodations, and fear the virus could spread exponentially.
Samut Sakhon is located 34 kilometers (21 miles) southwest of Bangkok, the capital.
Governor Samut Sakhon has imposed a night curfew and other travel restrictions until January 3. Many public places in the province, including shopping malls, schools, cinemas, spas and sports stadiums, have been ordered to close.
At the Mahachai fish and seafood market, there was a wasted atmosphere as idle workers sat around, unable to leave the area. The food supply was taken to the entrance, but had to be unloaded. Masked residents of market dwellings piled provisions into carts and took them away.
For some, the concern was economic.
“I’m worried because I can’t do anything and my employees can’t go out either, so we can’t do anything. The loss is huge, ”said 55-year-old seafood trader Thanawan Watchanapraphan.
Wanida Imphanchai, another trader, walked near the blocked market entrance and told police on duty a few days ago that he had a negative coronavirus test and that he should be let go. She showed them the document on her phone, but they politely declined her request.
“How can I live like this? The virus arrives but I can’t see it. If something happens to me, it will be messy, ”Wanida said before leaving.
With less than 5,000 cases and 60 deaths, Thailand has been able to largely control the virus. Prior to the current outbreak, there had been very few cases of local transmission in recent months, as life has largely returned to normal.