Strict controls on borders as Myanmar sees big jump in Covid-19 cases

Chatchai Promlert, the ministry’s permanent secretary, on Friday told the provincial governors and local administratiom agencies to especially keep a watch on illegal entry across the border.

On Thursday, the government’s Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) reported a second wave of Covid-19 outbreak in Myanmar. Since August 16, there have been 580 cases, most of them in Sittwe, the capital of the northern Rakhine State, leading to a lockdown of since August 20.

Chatchai emphasised on surveillance in border areas of the 10 provinces: Kanchanaburi, Chumphon, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Tak, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Phetchaburi, Mae Hong Son, Ranong and Ratchaburi, as needed. He urged the officials to strictly follow the CCSA’s virus prevention measures.

Meanwhile, Pasakorn Boonyalak, deputy governor of Chiang Rai province, called for a meeting on Thursday (August 27) with border agencies to discuss measures on preventing the spread of Covid-19 after 20 new cases were reported in Sittwe of Rakhine State in Myanmar.

As per Worldometers, Myanmar had 602 confirmed Covid-19 cases as of 2am on Friday, and in response, the country has ordered all schools closed.

Authorities are concerned about the districts of Mae Sai, Mae Fah Luang, Mae Chan and Chiang Saen, as they are on the borders of Myanmar and Laos. The Pha Muang Force, a team of rangers, soldiers and local police, installed barbed wire fence and surveillance cameras to detect movement and is also patrolling the natural channels with drones to prevent unauthorised entry of both Burmese and Thais stranded in Myanmar.

If there is any sign of smuggling across the border, arrests will be carried out immediately, the authorities said.

Colonel Chatree Sanguantham, chief of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment Task Force, said 332 people trying to make their way into the country through natural channels have been returned to their country of origin in cooperation with the Mae Sai communicable disease control outfit.

Pasakorn said Chiang Rai has been clean of Covid-19 for more than 100 days and that borders will be strictly guarded to ensure there are no new cases.

Meanwhile, approximately 10,000 Chinese tourists are reportedly stranded at the King Roman Casino on the Laos side of the Chiang Saen border, and many have been trying to make their way across the Mekong River into Thailand, so they can be deported to China.

In the past month, 18 such people were caught and made to return by foot because there are no guidelines on supporting such groups.

Separately, Chaiyapruek Chianthanrak, chief of Mae Sot district in Tak province, called an urgent meeting on Thursday to discuss the Covid-19 situation in Rakhine state.

He said that since Mae Sot is on the border with Myanmar, related officials should ensure that they do not let any infected Myanmar citizens cross the border.