Mae Sot locals complain quarantined returnees spitting, throwing garbage from balconies
Reports of returnees from Myanmar spitting from their quarantine facilities onto houses below sparked an investigation by authorities in Mae Sot, Tak province, on Monday.
Chaiyapruek Chianthanarak, sheriff of Mae Sot, led a team of health officials to the Phu Inn Hotel, which is being used as a Covid-19 state quarantine facility for Thais who have returned from Myanmar both legally and illegally.
Locals living nearby had reported that the returnees were coming out on to the hotel’s balcony to smoke and spit “floods” of saliva on to houses below. The returnees were also throwing garbage down from the hotel, said locals. These violations of basic hygiene rules threatened to spread Covid-19 into the community, said residents.
Chaiprik assured them that all initial Covid-19 tests on the quarantine-stayers had come back negative, adding that it was better the returnees were in quarantine rather than strolling about the community. However, he promised to deal with the complaints, especially those concerning hygiene.