Lampang and Sakon Nakhon yesterday recorded their first confirmed new coronavirus infections, reducing the number of Covid-19-free provinces to 13, according to health authorities.
As of yesterday, the coronavirus-free provinces are Kamphaeng Phet, Chai Nat, Trat, Nan, Bueng Kan, Phangnga, Phichit, Ranong, Nakhon Nayok, Satun, Sing Buri, Samut Songkhram and Ang Thong.
In Lampang, provincial governor Narongsak Osottanakorn yesterday called an urgent meeting with local officials including health officials and police to review Covid-19 screening and other related measures after the first infection was confirmed in this northern province.
The case was reported in Ban Dong village in tambon Luang Tai in Ngao district, which came under lockdown on Friday night, according to village head, Sathit Kakeo, 49.
Inside the village, health volunteers and health officials from a local health centre were scaling up awareness campaign among residents about the need to strictly follow personal hygiene practices recommended by the Public Health Ministry, including washing hands frequently and wearing a face mask when in public places, Mr Sathit said.
The residents appeared to understand the virus outbreak situation, he said, adding disinfectant would be sprayed in the village.
Meanwhile, the Lampang district court has ordered to a resident in Thoen district to be jailed for 15 days for defying a legal requirement to perform a 14-day mandatory self-quarantine at home. The resident, a male, is at high risk of having contracted Covid-19.
The prison sentence was handed to him in lieu of paying a 7,500 baht fine.
In Sakon Nakhon, the first confirmed Covid-19 infection was identified as a 21-year-old woman who had only recently returned from Phuket where she worked.
Manop Chalatthanyakit, deputy provincial medical health chief, said the infected woman returned to Sakon Nakhon on March 21. She was picked up from Udon Thani airport by her parents. They travelled together in a car with the woman's five-year-old son to the family home in Charoen Sin district in Sakon Nakhon.
On the first night after arriving home, the woman slept in the same bedroom as her son. The next morning she began developing symptoms including a fever, a headache and muscle pain, the doctor said.
The patient, however, only visited Charoen Sin Hospital on Friday, said the doctor, adding that specimens had been collected from people with whom she had been in contact.
The woman was admitted to a district hospital for treatment and later transferred to the bigger Sakon Nakhon Hospital she was now being treated.