The Public Health Ministry debunked the rumour on Wednesday, saying the 914 cases came from several factories in the province, not just one factory as rumoured.

“Canning factories in Thailand follow good manufacturing practices [GMP] standards that require sterilisation of cans at 100 degrees Celsius or higher, which is hot enough to kill all germs, including the Covid-19 virus,” said Suphattra Boonserm, FDA’s deputy secretary-general.

“Once the food and cans are sterilised, nobody touches them directly so consumers should not be concerned about the virus being spread from infected workers.

“However, it is recommended that you wash the can clean before you open it,” she said.

Canned fish is safe to consume, says FDA

Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has said that canned fish is perfectly safe to consume. This announcement was in response to concerns raised after people heard rumours that 914 workers at a canning factory in Samut Sakhon had tested positive for Covid-19.