Over 500 New COVID-19 Cases Reported in Samut Sakhon Province, Thailand

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunseok Yoo] In a province of Thailand, more than 500 new cases of COVID-19 were reported.

According to local media including the daily Bangkok Post on the 20th, in Samut Sakhon Province southwest of Bangkok, 13 people tested positive for COVID-19 in the morning of the previous day, followed by an additional 548 positive cases in the afternoon of the same day.

This is the largest number of new confirmed cases to date. The cumulative number of COVID-19 cases has risen to 4,331.

Accordingly, the Thai government imposed a nighttime curfew in Samut Sakhon Province from 10 PM to 5 AM the next day. The curfew will continue until January 3 of next year. Along with this, residents are also prohibited from moving outside of Samut Sakhon Province.

A health official explained, "Most of the confirmed cases are migrant workers," and added that there is a possibility of more confirmed cases emerging.

The health authorities specifically stated that more infection cases could arise from the shrimp wholesale market.

Thai health authorities are paying close attention to Myanmar, where COVID-19 is spreading rapidly.

It is known that thousands of Myanmar migrant workers are employed in the seafood industry in Samut Sakhon Province.

Earlier this week in Samut Sakhon Province, three family members and relatives of a 67-year-old shrimp wholesaler who tested positive for COVID-19 were subsequently confirmed as cases. On the 19th, two Thais and three Myanmar migrant workers who had contact with the shrimp wholesaler also tested positive.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.