Coronavirus (Covid-19)

Samut Sakhon governor tests positive for Covid-19, public health minister in quarantine

Published

Monday, December 28, 2020 15:03

PHOTO: Facebook: อนุทิน ชาญวีรกูล

The Samut Sakhon governor Veerasak Vijitsaengsri tested positive for Covid-19 and has been admitted to the hospital for treatment. Prior to testing positive for the virus, the governor had an hour-long meeting on Sunday with public health officials, including Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul who is now in quarantine at his home.

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration spokesperson Taweeslip Visanuyothin confirmed the governor’s positive result today. More than 1,000 people in Samut Sakhon have tested positive for Covid-19, Most cases are linked to a seafood market in Mahachai and affecting a large migrant community who work in the fishing hub.

“The official has been working hard in the province and been exposed to a high risk of contracting the disease, despite taking precautions.”

All of the health officials wore masks throughout Sunday’s meeting at the Samut Sakhon Hospital. Anutin says doctors consider him at low risk of catching the virus because he wore a mask.

Following the governor’s positive test result, Anutin had a swab test. He says his first test was negative. Test results from the other senior officials at the meeting are pending.

CCSA Update: 144 new Covid-19 cases

144 new Covid-19 cases were reported today in the CCSA’s daily briefing. Many of the cases are linked to the outbreaks at a Samut Sakhon seafood market and at a Rayong gambling den. 15 of those cases were detected in quarantine from those arriving in Thailand from overseas.

Thailand’s total number of confirmed cases is raised to 6,285 with 4,180 recoveries. 2,045 people are currently receiving medical treatment for the coronavirus, a record high in active cases in Thailand.

The Samut Sakhon outbreak, just southwest of Bangkok, affected a large migrant community. In mass testing rolled out after the recent spike in cases, 14 more migrant workers tested positive for Covid-19, the CCSA announced today. Altogether, 1,370 migrant workers have tested positive for the virus, Taweeslip says.

New cases linked to the “Samut Sakhon cluster” include 2 cases in Pathum Thani, 2 in Nonthaburi, 2 in Nakhon Nayok, 17 in Nakhon Pathom, 5 in Samut Prakan, 10 in Bangkok and 1 each in Ratchaburi, Samut Sakhon and Sukhothai.

For cases related to the “Rayong cluster,” 21 new Covid-19 cases were reported in Rayong, 1 in Chon Buri and 1 in Chiang Mai.

Health officials say 49 cases are under investigation to determine the source of the infection. Cases under investigation include 7 in Bangkok, 5 in Chon Buri, 35 in Rayong, 1 in Nakhon Pathom and 1 in Nonthaburi.

Active Covid-19 cases in Thailand as of December 27, according to Worldometers.

Samut Sakhon governor tests positive for Covid-19, public health minister in quarantine | News by Thaiger

SOURCES: Bangkok Post | Nation Thailand

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14 Comments

Toby Andrews

Monday, December 28, 2020 at 3:10 pm

What’s this? The Health Minister does quarantine at home, and the peasants have to do quarantine in a big tent!

Reply
- Issan John
  
  Monday, December 28, 2020 at 3:21 pm
  
  No, the peasants are allowed to quarantine at home too unless they test positive, but the Burmese workers are quarantined in the big tent, as they (rather obviously) can’t quarantine “at home”.
  
  Reply
  - Toby Andrews
    
    Monday, December 28, 2020 at 5:04 pm
    
    Oh the Thai peasants can quarantine at5 home – that’s good..
    Is the big tent just for Burmese? I am not sure.
    And don’t they have to test positive to have to quarantine? Or is it a matter of: you look like you have covid, get in that tent?
    
    Reply
    - Issan John
      
      Monday, December 28, 2020 at 8:04 pm
      
      You may not be “sure”, Toby, but everyone else who’s up to date is.
      
      … and “no” they don’t have to test positive to quarantine.
      
      If you’re still “not sure”, all the Burmese in the area are being quarantined in the “big tents”, then those testing positive are quarantined separately or in one of the three field hospitals being set up.
      
      Clear?
      
      Reply
      - Toby Andrews
        
        Monday, December 28, 2020 at 10:00 pm
        
        every one else is not up to date.
        So they are not positive for covid, but against their will, in many cases, they have to quarantine in a a big tent.
        What rotten corrupt dictators are you supporting that do this!
        CLEAR?
Issan John

Monday, December 28, 2020 at 3:23 pm

I shouldn’t be, but I can’t help being slightly amused that yesterday the Governor said ““The field hospital is in front of my house so I am confident that it is 1,000% safe.”

Reply
Galaxy

Monday, December 28, 2020 at 3:23 pm

“The Samut Sakhon governor Veerasak Vijitsaengsri tested positive for Covid-19”
He is maybe on the good way to get 100.000 B.

Reply
- Issan John
  
  Monday, December 28, 2020 at 4:53 pm
  
  Unlikely he caught it in Chiang Mai.
  
  Reply
Corruption

Monday, December 28, 2020 at 4:36 pm

Anutin in a quarantine at his 5 star golf course?

Reply
Dreqo

Monday, December 28, 2020 at 6:56 pm

Fortunately for him, he’s got a 99.8% chance at a full and uneventful recovery.

Reply
- Issan John
  
  Monday, December 28, 2020 at 8:22 pm
  
  … and “fortunately for him” he’s got an expert like you working on it who knows his full medical records …
  
  Reply
  - Toby Andrews
    
    Monday, December 28, 2020 at 10:10 pm
    
    uNFORTUAMATELY FOR HIM
    
    And you have his medical records I suppose?
    If not do not comment because you have no evidence that Drego is not right.
    You are always asking for evidence that a poster is correct, yet you provide no evidence that the poster is not.
    
    Reply
Mike

Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at 5:58 am

Johnny still “struggling” with inverted commas, I see.

“Cheers”

Reply
chris

Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at 11:38 am

Anutin Charnvirakul is an imbecile. how is he even qualified for the job of Public Health Minster?

Reply

Caitlin Ashworth

Caitlin Ashworth is a writer from the United States who has lived in Thailand since 2018. She graduated from the University of South Florida St. Petersburg with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and media studies in 2016. She was a reporter for the Daily Hampshire Gazette In Massachusetts. She also interned at the Richmond Times-Dispatch in Virginia and Sarasota Herald-Tribune in Florida.

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