Trang: The public health system in Ratsada district has been forced to shut down after 60 medical staff contracted Covid-19 with the rest required to undergo mandatory quarantine.
Bancherd Sukpipatpanont, chief of the Trang provincial health office, said medical services in the district are suspended. Closed are Ratsada Hospital, the public health office and six community hospitals.
The closure comes after 60 medical personnel were found infected with the coronavirus and other staff who are in the at-risk group have to quarantine for 14 days, he said.
The Covid-19 patients have been admitted to a field hospital while 60 others who came into contact with them are in quarantine at a designated venue in the compound of Ratsada Hospital, Dr Bancherd said.
All patients being treated at Ratsada Hospital have been tested for Covid-19 and the results came back negative.
Also, residents in Prachuap Khiri Khan's Hua Hin district are calling on officials to temporarily shut a canned pineapple factory after 11 workers were found infected with the virus.
Panya Konya, a village head in tambon Hin Lek Fai, said the community wants the factory closed for five days for disinfection and Covid-19 tests in the wake of the cluster infection.
He said the factory's operations are continuing as usual which is upsetting the community.
"Local officials should consider deep cleaning the factory and the operations should be suspended for five days. Mass testing should also be carried out among factory workers."
Suriya Khuharat, chief of the provincial public health office, said yesterday the vaccination campaign is ready to roll with 18 venues designated as Covid-19 vaccine clinics.
He said the inoculation programme for people aged 60 and over and those with underlying health conditions is scheduled from June 7-11. Those who receive their jabs will have to stay for 30 minutes for observation.
The Trang office yesterday reported 22 new coronavirus cases, raising the total to 1,140.
