Mass Covid-19 testing will be ramped up in Samut Sakhon this week, as the province prepares to ease disease control measures put in place after it became a hotspot of the latest coronavirus outbreak late last year.
Testing has been ongoing in the province since December, and authorities there are hoping they can finish testing at-risk individuals by the end of the week, so the province can begin easing coronavirus-related restrictions.
Apisamai Srirangsun, assistant spokeswoman for the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), said proactive screening and mass testing are the only ways through which authorities can determine if Samut Sakhon can be reclassified as a low-risk zone.
Since the beginning of the latest outbreak, the province is classified as a maximum control zone, where the strictest disease control measures apply.
Throughout the week, public health authorities in Samut Sakhon will step up the screening of workers in factories, wet markets and dormitories, while in the first week of February, the focus will shift to high-risk communities, Dr Apisamai said.
"The plan is to turn Samut Sakhon from a 'red' to 'green' [zone] as quickly as possible, so we can start to consider and plan to relax the restrictions," she said, adding many people have asked if authorities have plans to loosen restrictions for schools, the Central Shrimp Market and restaurants in the area.
Provided Covid-19 guidelines are strictly followed and the number of new infections remains manageable, the situation in Samut Sakhon is expected to improve by the second week of February.
"If the numbers continue to look good, some schools may be allowed to reopen in early February. Maybe next week, we'll hear some good news and the loosening of restrictions for some establishments," she said.
Since the outbreak in Samut Sakhon was first reported, the province has reported 5,332 confirmed cases -- most of which were found among migrant workers.
Meanwhile, the public health chief of Samut Sakhon's Muang district office, Mana Paothui, said efforts are underway to reduce overcrowding at migrant workers' dormitories and promote high hygiene standards to safeguard public health.
Dr Mana said officers are surveying migrant workers' dormitories, and their recommendations will be used to reorganise the workers' accommodation before the province's Central Shrimp Market is considered.
There are four dormitories near the Central Shrimp Market, with 1,200-1,500 rooms shared by between 2,500-2,700 migrant workers.
Opas Karnkawinpong, director-general of the Department of Disease Control, said yesterday Covid-19 restrictions imposed on Samut Sakhon, Chanthaburi, Chon Buri, Trat and Rayong can be loosened next month if the number of infections drops.
Following a spike in cases in those provinces, authorities have tightened disease control measures, with an emphasis on screening people leaving and entering these provinces to help prevent any further spread.
Travel restrictions to/from these provinces are in place until Feb 1.
However, Dr Opas said, additional measures may be added if the situation does not improve.
Thailand yesterday recorded 198 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 13,500.
One new death was reported, raising the accumulated toll to 73.
The new fatality was a 73-year-old woman who had been in close contact with a family member diagnosed with Covid-19 in Samut Sakhon.
She showed symptoms on Jan 4 and tested positive on Jan 9.
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