AYUTTHAYA: The closure of Ayutthaya’s Central Shrimp Market has been extended for seven more days, with 43 people now confirmed to have caught Covid-19 there.
The communicable disease control committee on Tuesday resolved to extend the closure of the market in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya district until May 4, after additional coronavirus infections were linked direcly to the marketplace, Ayutthaya governor Phanu Yaemsri said
Infections were earlier detected among owners and employees of six seafood restaurants in the shrimp market. The number of seafood restaurants where infections have been reported has since risen to 10.
Now, 43 people working there have tested positive for Covid-19, after a second round of coronavirus tests on people in at-risk groups, the governor said.
The infected people comprised 34 owners and staff, six customers and three others who came into contact with infected people there.
Another 167 at-risk people and another 288 at low-risk had quarantined themselves at their homes. Owners of some shops were isolating themselves in their premises at the market.
The panel therefore decided to extend the closure of the market, which was earlier closed until April 27, for seven more days.
Ayutthaya reported 16 new Covid-19 cases on Tuesday, raising total infections in the latest outbreak to 325 in the province. In April there have been 265 confirmed cases to date, of which 222 remain in hospitals, and one Covid-19 death.
Ayutthaya’s Central Shrimp Market is a tourist site and a hub of popular seafood restaurants, particularly for grilled shrimp and fish.
