Health officials have reported the discovery of a COVID-19 cluster at Prachuap Khiri Khan Provincial Prison.
Those infected included 14 inmates and 3 prison officers, according to Dr. Suriya Kuharat, the provincial public health director.
The discovery of the cluster means that 1,700 out of the prison’s 2,200 inmates are now deemed to be at ‘high risk’.
Prison visits are currently banned nationwide as a preventative measure against the spread of the virus.
Dr. Suriya said that health officials believe the cluster was caused after a prison officer returned to their home province and brought the virus back to the prison.
A field hospital has now been established at the prison with efforts being made to separate those who test positive from other inmates.
Prison chiefs are also co-ordinating with Prachuap Hospital to conduct proactive testing of inmates.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Communicable Disease Committee announced the temporary closure of the Singkhon border checkpoint for seven days.
This is to review measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, where government agencies and import-export operators will jointly set up more stringent preventative measures to monitor the spread of the virus.Â
