NAKHON PHANOM: Twenty-two Thais who returned from work in Laos have been released after undergoing a 14-day quarantine without any signs of being infected with Covid-19.

Dr Jinnapipat Chupanya, chief of the provincial public health office, said the 22 returned via the 3rd Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge linking Nakhon Phanom and Khammouane province of Laos on April 7.

They were placed in quarantine at the learning centre of the Rubber Authority of Thailand at Ban Dong Chok in tambon Nong Yat, Muang district. During the 14 days in quarantine, they showed no symptoms of being infected with coronavirus.

The 22 were allowed to go home on Tuesday after an official ceremony chaired by Dr Jinnapipat.

The 3rd Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge has been closed indefinitely from March 22 as a precaution against the Covid-19 spread. People are not allowed to cross the bridge during the closure unless they are transporting goods.

The province on the border with Laos has recorded only two infections. One has recovered and the other is still under treatment.

Since March 22, a total of 10,002 people returned to Nakhon Phanom from Bangkok and other provinces and went into self-isolation under close observation by local health officials. Of them, 7,432 have passed the 14-day period and 2,570 are still under observation.