More than 400 people have contracted Covid-19 from three markets in Pathum Thani, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) reported yesterday.
Apisamai Srirangson, assistant spokeswoman of the CCSA, said the Public Health Ministry had tested about 4,000 people living or working near Pornpat, Suchart and Rangsit markets and 437 were found to be infected.
Dr Apisamai said infections linked to the markets had also spread to nine other provinces: Nakhon Nayok, Bangkok, Phetchaburi, Samut Prakan, Saraburi, Ayutthaya, Ang Thong, Nakhon Ratchasima and Nonthaburi.
The ministry's testing programme would result in an increase in known local infections, she said, but the infection rate was then expected to drop.
Provincial officials had imposed containment measures such as local and home quarantine and hospitals were ready to treat any Covid-19 patients with symptoms who needed treatment, she said.
Those with mild symptoms were required to quarantine at home or at an appropriate facility to contain the spread, Dr Apisimai added.
She said the CCSA hoped that markets and communities would work together to develop hygienic standards and use stringent screening measures. If an infection were detected, however, they must report it to authorities immediately.
The CCSA also suggested that people plan their shopping trips to fresh food markets in advance to spend the least possible time there.
The centre reported 150 new Covid-19 cases yesterday -- 142 local infections and eight imported -- raising the total to 25,111.
About 104 cases were found in communities and 38 cases in hospitals. The eight imported cases were quarantined arrivals from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Uganda, Nigeria, South Africa (2) and Bahrain (2). Samut Sakhon province logged 88 new cases, 61.9% of the daily total. Of these, 62 were detected in communities and 26 in hospitals.
Pathum Thani had 45 new cases.