THE government and the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) took various steps to control the spread of Covid-19 infection in Rayong today (July 14) after an infected Egyptian soldier went shopping at Laemthong plaza at this coastal province last Friday with all 394 shoppers called in for 14-day quarantine, Naewna newspaper reported.
The Cabinet also passed a resolution for the lightening transfer of Rayong Governor Mr. Surasak Charoensirichot to be the governor of Nakhon Pathom province instead.
Deputy Minister of Public Health Sathit Pitutecha said Laemthong plaza will be shut immediately for extensive cleaning. It will probably reopen again on July 16 after an inspection by provincial Public Health officials.
Dr. Taweesilp Visanuyothin, CCSA’s spokesman, said the panel is revising the easing of quarantine measures for diplomatic mission personnel, especially spouse, parents and children, traveling to Thailand and they must now be placed under 14-day quarantine with the Foreign Ministry being informed to take appropriate steps.
There will be a delay for those allowed to travel to Thailand under the relaxed state quarantine measures until a review of the measures has been made in a prudent manner. Therefore diplomats and business people traveling here for a short term must wait for this review to be completed before embarking on their journey.
The Foreign Ministry has also been told to cancel the permission given to the Egyptian military aircraft to make eight additional trips here during July 17-20 and July 25-29.
Public Health Minister Sathit said a check of CCTV clips showed that the 31 Egyptian soldiers had gone shopping at two places, with 27 of them going to Laemthong plaza while the other four persons went by taxi to Central Plaza Rayong.
The 27 Egyptian soldiers split up after reaching Laemthong store, with six of the, including the infected Egyptian, shopping separately. There were there from 11.25 a.m. to 2.56 p.m.
They had shopped on the second and third floors of the store, but did not eat or drink there and wore their face masks throughout.
Dr. Taweesilp said 394 people were shopping at Laemthong plaza on July 10 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and 1,488 at Central Department Store Rayong but seven of them could not be contacted.
All the 394 Laemthong shoppers have been told to contact officials and go into state quarantine.
As the four Egyptian soldiers who went to Central were not infected, it is not necessary to close that store.
Meanwhile Condo One X in Sukhumvit 26 said today an infected person who stayed at the building was residing on the 19th floor and did not use common recreational facilities, having only used one of the lifts to go up to the condo.
On Saturday, CCSA reported that a nine-year-old girl who came from Sudan with her family had tested positive.
On Monday Dr. Taweesilp said the girl was at a hospital but the other four family members were not in state quarantine because they were the family of a diplomat, Bangkok Post reported.
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Top: Laemthong plaza in Rayong, Thai headline says, “Laemthong store shut.” Photo: Naewna
