PATHUM THANI: Two big fresh food markets in the Rangsit area of outer northern Bangkok have been closed for five days after 60 people there tested positive for Covid-19.
They are in Pathum Thani province. The provincial communicable disease committee, chaired by the governor, ordered the closure of the Suchart market and Pornpat market, both in tambon Prachathipat of Thanyaburi district, from Friday to Tuesday, inclusive.
Explaining the closure order to vendors at Pornpat market, Thanyaburi district chief Pitsanu Prapatananant said 272 people were tested at the two markets on Wednesday and Thursday, and 60 of them were positive for Covid-19.
The markets were closed temporarily and health workers were testing all migrant workers and at-risk people there, in a bid to control the disease, Mr Pitsanu said.
Local authorities had ordered migrant workers to stay inside their rooms for 14 days.
The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration reported on Friday that the 60 new cases in Pathum Thani comprised 31 Thais and 29 Myanmar - 20 are men aged 20-54 and 40 are women aged 19-55.
On Monday Pathum Thani logged four new Covid-19 cases. One is a Myanmar woman, 31, who worked at a citrus stall in Pornpat market. She had been on leave from Jan 30 to Feb 5.
She fell ill on Feb 1 and sought treatment at Prachathipat Hospital on Saturday. A swab was taken for Covid-19 testing. The positive test result was known on Sunday.