Three mobile Covid-19 testing units were on Monday sent to examine about 4,000 Thai and Myanmar nationals in Mae Sot district of Tak province after three Myanmar lorry drivers tested positive for the new coronavirus at the Thai border between Friday and Saturday.
All are residents of border communities seen as being at high risk of spreading the virus that causes Covid-19, said Thoetkiat Shinsoranan, mayor of Mae Sot City Municipality.
The testing was carried out while residents were being warned to stay home and avoid travelling as much as they could, said Mr Thoetkiat.
Eleven schools were ordered closed on Monday for cleaning and will open again tomorrow. The two main fresh markets in Mae Sot district saw a significant drop in shoppers on Monday even though most shops were open as usual.
Vehicles from Myanmar are still banned from entering Thailand. They are currently only allowed to load and unload goods at designated areas in the district until further notice.
The first two Covid-19 cases were found on Friday during active testing of lorry drivers from Myanmar at the border by health and local officials, while the third case -- also a lorry driver -- was found on Saturday. All three infected drivers were immediately sent back to Myawaddy.
An official said during a visit to Mae Sot district on Monday that none of the 1,500 people already tested was found to have the virus.
