Border security in the southern border provinces has been heightened as authorities fear large numbers of illegal border crossings by Thais in light of a nationwide lockdown in Malaysia.
Malaysia has announced a nationwide "total lockdown" from June 1-14 as Covid-19 infections in the country surge to record levels, with only essential services remaining in operation.
Amid fears of a flood of illegal workers crossing the border, the Thepsatree Task Force has reinforced its troops to seal off 95km of border areas in Narathiwat, and more such security steps are planned.
A Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) subcommittee on Sunday raised concerns over the likelihood of such crossings, CCSA assistant spokeswoman Apisamai Srirangson said. The lockdown in Malaysia may prompt many Thai nationals working in the neighbouring country to sneak back, she said.
"We never refuse to let them back in but please return legally [through immigration checkpoints]," she said.
In Songkhla, Charuwat Kliangklao, the provincial governor, said a survey carried out along the 85-kilometre borderline on Sunday found seven spots prone to illegal border crossings. Illegal crossings of both Thais and migrants had been detected at these spots, connected with either Kedah or Perlis of the neighbouring country.
Illegal border crossings by a variety of means, such as using a ladder to climb over the fence or digging a hole to slip underneath the fence, have been found lately, he said.
Soldiers and border patrol police will work together with local administrative authorities to stem illegal crossings, he said.
Authorities worry that some making the illegal crossing may be infected with Covid-19. At the very least they are likely to avoid health checks to which others are subject, and the need for treatment or self-quarantine if they are found to be ill.
Songkhla on Sunday recorded 99 new Covid-19 infections, including 59 new cases detected in an infection cluster linked to a prison, he said, adding the total number of infections has risen to 1,553, including eight deaths.
Dr Apisamai said the number of infection clusters remains at 47 in 28 districts but to curb the virus transmission, proactive screening would be carried out at 489 markets covering some 30,300 people.
Active case finding was carried out at 28 markets out of 489, and the infection rate was 6.6%, she said. In addition, health officials would carry out massive testing at 30 workers' camps in Bangkok during June 1-10.
Based on a City Hall survey, workers' camps are present in every district in Bangkok, scattered mostly in Bang Kapi, Bang Khen, Lat Phrao, and Huay Kwang districts.
Some have more than 1,000 workers.
City Hall had held talks with 134 construction companies about Covid-19 restrictions especially the bubble-and-seal method at camps for construction workers.
CCSA on Sunday reported 4,528 new cases, of which 1,902 cases are in prisons, and 24 fatalities, passing two grim milestones with the accumulated death toll now at 1,012 and the number of cases since the start of the pandemic at 154,307.
Bangkok and Phetchaburi logged 754 new infections each. Samut Prakan came third with 264 cases, followed by 139 in Nonthaburi and 90 in Chon Buri.