08 Jun, 2021
A further 534 coronavirus cases were found at three prisons in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of infected inmates in the third wave to more than 30,000 people, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) said on Tuesday. The prison population of Thailand is a little more than 310,000.
The country reported 2,662 cases in the past 24 hours. Apart from the cases in prisons, 1,495 were found at medical facilities 617 via pro-active tests at known clusters and 16 imported cases, said Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin, the CCSA’s spokesman.
Of the 534 prison cases, 415 were found at Bang Kwang Central Prison alone followed by 115 cases Chachoengsao Provincial Central Prison and four cases at Klong Prem Central Prison.
The Klong Prem Central Prison’ cluster had led to 8,179 cases in the third wave while Bang Kwang Central Prison now has 6,247 confirmed cases and Chachoengsao Provincial Central Prison has 2,847 cases.
The third wave, which started at entertainment venues in Bangkok and surrounding provinces, has led to 153,685 cases since April 1, including 30,380 inmates across 21 prisons.
Of the total number of infected inmates, 16,175 have recovered and 21 have died.
There were 310,223 inmates in the entire system as of June 7.
Imported cases
Of the 16 imported cases that were found in the past 24 hours, six were illegal Thai returnees from Cambodia.
Another 238 people, mostly foreign nationals, were arrested for trying to illegally enter Thailand at all borders in the past 24 hours. The country imposes a two-week quarantine on anyone entering via an official checkpoint.
Of that, 133 were trying to cross over from Cambodia into Thailand via natural passages.
“On the Cambodia side, the border control efforts are now being concentrated at Sa Kaeo, Chanthaburi and Trat,” Dr Taweesin said.
More than 1,200 people were arrested for trying to illegally enter Thailand at these three provinces between Jun 1 and June 6 including 898 in Chanthaburi, 338 in Sa Kaeo and 35 in Trat.
Nationwide, 8,985 were arrested at all borders in the same period of time.
“We are applying strict measures but thee are still people who are trying to illegally enter. For Thai returnees, we are urging all of them to adhere to the law to prevent the spread of the virus,” he added.
