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| 36,000 factory workers in 49 provinces in Thailand have tested positive for COVID-19 since the latest outbreak in April this year |
BERNAMA
30/7/2021
BANGKOK, July 30 -- More than 36,000 factory workers in 49 provinces in Thailand have tested positive for COVID-19 since the latest outbreak in April this year, data compiled by the Industry Ministry.
Based on the data, a total of 36,861 workers at 518 factories have tested positive as of Thursday.
The data indicate the industry most affected include the food processing industry (99 factories), electronics industry (74 factories), clothing industry (47 factories), metal industry (42 factories) and plastics industry (36 factories).
Thai PBS daily reported Phetchaburi tops the list of provinces with the highest infection rate among factory workers, where a total of 4,464 cases have been reported. The other provinces are Phetchabun (3,487), Prachuap Khiri Khan (2,538), Samut Sakhon (2,496) and Songkhla (2,209 cases),
Meanwhile, Thailand today received its first batch of 1.5 million doses of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine donated by the United States to accelerate its vaccination campaign in the kingdom.
In a statement, the US Embassy in Thailand said the vaccine donation has no strings attached.
“We are doing this with the singular objective of saving lives and with the full knowledge that none of us are safe until all of us are safe.
“As such, we are happy to hear the Royal Thai Government has committed to distributing these vaccines equitably to all residents of Thailand and to prioritise those most at risk,” it said.
Meanwhile, US Embassy Charge d'Affaires Michael Heath said the donation is part of Presiden Biden’s promise to help friends, partners and allies fight this global pandemic.
“The arrival of the vaccine is another testament to our unbreakable friendship. We stand side by side with you,” he said.
US government will send another one million doses of COVID-19 vaccine in addition to the batch received on Friday.
Meanwhile, deputy government spokeswoman Traisuree Taisaranakul said the vaccine donated by the United States would be used as a booster shot for frontline medical workers as well as high-risk and vulnerable groups.
Thailand will receive another 415,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine donated by United Kingdom. The vaccine is due to arrive next month.
Meanwhile, Thailand recorded 17,345 new COVID-19 cases and 117 deaths, over the last 24 hours, bringing the total infections in the kingdom to 549, 512 and 4,679 fatalities, to date.
Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) spokesman Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin said the new cases include 17,337 local transmissions and eight imported cases. The number also includes 681 prisoners.
He said the new fatalities involved 62 men and 55 women aged between 33 and 92 years old including five Myanmar nationals.
“The number of patients in the hospitals nationwide almost hit 200,000. To date, a total of 192,526 patients remain at hospitals and field hospitals including 4,595 in critical condition and 1,012 on ventilators,” he said at COVID-19 daily briefing here today.
