Only 1,000 out of 15,000 migrant workers still quarantined in Battambang

Health workers checking a migrant worker in Battambang province. Provincial Health Department

Battambang provincial governor yesterday announced that there are only 1,000 migrant workers who are still in self-quarantine out of 15,000 who were isolated after they returned from Thailand for the Khmer New Year.

Speaking at a press conference at the Council of Ministers, Governor Nguon Ratanak said samples of 500 of them were taken after they showed symptoms but they were later cleared.

Mr Ratanak noted the province only had eight cases of COVID-19 and all had since recovered.

“Our officials checked their [the migrants] health at the border after they crossed over from Thailand,” he said.

Mr Ratanak said that most of the migrant workers who returned from Thailand always arrived at the border at night, which required health officials to work day and night to examine them and ensure they were not infected.

“Now the cleared migrant have returned to their home provinces,” he added.

Mr Ratanak also said a few days ago, 100 migrant workers tried to cross back to Thailand but they were arrested by Thai authorities and sent back as the country has closed its border to prevent the spread of the virus.

Battambang provincial health department director Voeun Bunret said health officials have been working fast to list the medical histories of returnee migrant workers before putting them in quarantine.

He said returnees must undergo self-quarantine for 14 days. If someone has COVID-19, they will be sent to treatment centres until they recover.

Mr Bunret said authorities had already prepared some schools where patients will be quarantined and officials are continuing efforts to prevent a virus spread in the community.

Health Minister Mam Bun Heng said on Monday 92,000 migrant workers who returned from Thailand were tested and results for all came back negative for the virus.

“There are still migrant workers who come back from Thailand. The ministry has a working group at the border to examine their health and recently in Banteay Meanchey, samples of some of them were taken. So far, no one has tested positive,” he said.

Credited: Khmer Times