40 confirmed Covid-19 cases surface in southern Yala province

A second set of swabs from 40 asymptomatic in-patients at a hospital in Yala, southern Thailand, were sent to a laboratory in neighbouring Songkhla for analysis. Now the health office has confirmed the 40 new Covid-19 cases in Yala. The huge spike in local cases has sent health officials scurrying to trace those who had been in contact with the contaminants.

Although today is a public holiday in Thailand, the spike in southern cases is sure to be the main topic at today’s CSSA daily Covid-19 briefing.

New infections in Yaha district jumped by about 30% after initial tests on 78 people showed 24 of them were infected with Covid-19. 4 new cases were found in the main city district, 24 in Yaha district, 7 in Bannang Satar district and 5 in Raman districts.

Doctors admit that the infection rate in the Yaha district is unusually high, compared to Active Case Tests on more than 3,000 people, conducted between April 18-24 in Yala province, where only 20 tested positive for the virus.

Those 20 cases, confirmed by the results of the tests performed on more than 3,000 returnees from pilgrimages to Malaysia, Pakistan and Indonesia, residents returning from Bangkok and other provinces, and people in high-risk communities, have already been reported to the CCSA, according to Thai PBS World.

A full investigation into the sources of the infections has been launched by local health officials.

CCSA spokesman Taweesilp Visanuyothin said yesterday that reports of new infections needed to be verified as some areas posted an unusually high percentage of positive test results.

“Accuracy must come first.”

Yala is one of three southern border provinces hardest hit by Covid-19 infections, with 126 confirmed cases.