The Department of Disease Control (DDC) is keeping a close watch on Myanmar cities that border Thailand after learning the country on Wednesday reported 592 new cases of Covid-19.

The coronavirus disease situation in Myanmar is a great concern, so business operators should stop hiring foreign workers, especially Myanmar people, to help prevent a second wave of Covid-19 infections in Thailand, said DDC director-general Suwannachai Wattanayingcharoenchai on Wednesday.

The number of new Covid-19 infections in Myanmar surged on Wednesday, taking the total number of Covid-19 infections to 6,743.

 

Dr Suwannachai said the increasing cases in Myanmar are in line with a similar trend in India which has reached nearly 100,000 new cases each day. The countries share a border.


The Myanmar government has locked down Yangon, the former capital.

It also shut down schools and garment plants in the city.

People have been told to work from home. Strict health measures have been ordered to control the disease.

"Various agencies have been working together to prevent people from sneaking into the country illegally," Dr Suwannachai said.


He warned that tough legal action will be implemented against those found to be involved in human smuggling gangs.



There were 169 cases in Mon state sharing the border with Kanchanaburi, 36 cases in Karen sharing the border with Mae Hong Son, Tak and Kanchanaburi, 23 cases in Shan state sharing the border with Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son, 21 cases in Temasserim sharing the border with Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, and Ranong.