Tens of thousands of staff in Chonburi factories and businesses to be tested for Covid – 19 Monday, 3 May 2021, 21:19. Pattaya News



Chonburi –

About 33,000 staffers in "high-risk" industries and businesses in Chonburi are set to be tested for Covid -19 as part of a major increase in proactive case finding in the province said prominent Thai officials this afternoon.

Today, (May 3^rd), a meeting was held at the Chonburi City Hall led by the assistant of Minister of Labour Mr. Surachai Chaitrakunthong together with business and industry operators and owners.

Chonburi is targeting to test 33,530 staffers in businesses and industries in the province that are deemed "high risk", such as factories or construction sites that employ hundreds of people where social distancing can be difficult and that are still currently open.  The province has previously been conducting testing at "high risk" locations to the public, like entertainment venues, supermarket staff, taxi drivers, and similar places but are now shifting focus due to concerns about factories and similar locations.

This proactive case finding will be started within this week according to Chonburi officials. The testing will be free, but per Thailand policy, anyone who tests positive, even asymptomatic, will be required to do a medical quarantine under supervision at a hospital, field hospital, or "hospitel" which are former quarantine hotels.

The increase in testing is part of an overall plan for Chonburi, currently, one of six deep red provinces, to hopefully track down asymptomatic carriers of the virus and stop the spread of Covid-19 that has deeply hurt the tourist reliant province, especially Pattaya City.