Only ‘slim chance’ of outbreak

There is only a slim chance of an outbreak in Rayong after the unauthorised excursion by an Egyptian military delegation last week, according to the Disease Control Department.

Department director-general, Suwannachai Wattanayingcharoenchai, confirmed yesterday that only one member of the 31-member visiting group had tested positive for Covid-19.

Dr Suwannachai said because the infected soldier had always worn a mask and had not eaten at the mall he visited, there was minimal chance of a virus transmission.

The delegation was in Rayong from July 8-11. Much of their time was spent making two round trips between the D Varee Diva Hotel and U-Tapao airport, he said.

“They went out of their hotel and visited the malls only on July 10, from late morning until the afternoon,” he said.

Of the 31 Egyptians, 27 walked in small groups from the hotel to the Passione Shopping Destination mall. The infected soldier walked in a group of six to one mall only and four others went to CentralPlaza Rayong in a taxi. Officials tested all of them for Covid-19 that day and only one test came back positive, the director-general added.

The group which included the infected soldier stayed at the mall from 11am to 3pm and CCTV footage showed all of them wearing face masks from the time they left the hotel. They also passed temperature screening at the mall and used hand sanitisers there, Dr Suwannachai said.

There are 11 people who are considered to be most at-risk of contracting the virus — four drivers who ferried them between the hotel and the airport, and seven hotel employees.

All have been tested for Covid19 and are currently in quarantine for 14 days. So far, three hotel staff had tested negative for the virus, he said. Dr Suwannachai said 413 other people faced a low risk of infection because they were in the mall at the same time.