COVID-19: Thailand detects prison cluster, 112 test positive in Narathiwat

BANGKOK: A total of 112 individuals, including prison inmates and officials, in Narathiwat in Thailand, tested positive for COVID-19.

Narathiwat Public Health Office on Saturday conducted active case detection at the Narathiwat Prison, following five inmates and a prison official, who took part in an anti-drug campaign in Surat Thani, having tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday. They have fallen ill and are receiving treatment at the Surat Thani Hospital on Friday.

It said that a total of 214 inmates and prison officials, who are deemed as high risk, underwent COVID-19 tests, and 112 individuals (88 inmates, 23 prison officials and a nurse) tested positive for COVID-19.

Narathiwat Deputy Governor Pairote Jarit-ngam said that there are 2,334 inmates and 97 prison officials in the provincial prison.

As part of efforts to halt the spread of COVID-19 infection in prisons, the Corrections Department has suspended visits to prisoners at all prisons from tomorrow until May 5.

Its director-general Aryut Sinthoppan said that no inmates would be taken outside prisons for work and there will be no transfers between prisons starting tomorrow.

"All new prisoners will be isolated in separate cells for between 14 and 21 days, and they will be screened twice before they can leave.

"For inmates that need to attend court procedures, the department is working on alternative measures," he said in a statement.

Aryut said that family members and relatives can visit inmates 'virtually' as well as buying goods for them via the LINE App.

"All 143 prisons in the country must strictly comply with this order," he said.

Narathiwat Ratchanakharin Hospital director Dr Wichai Wichianwattanachai said that a field hospital had been set up for asymptomatic patients as well as those with mild COVID-19 symptoms.

To date, Thailand has recorded 29,127 COVID-19 cases and 95 fatalities.

-- BERNAMA