Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health said three restaurants in Bangkok – Saeb E-san Karaoke in Thewet and E-san Krong Kaew and Nongmai Plaza, both in Pinklao – could have spread Covid-19 after several newly infected patients were traced back to the eateries.

“Twenty-two patients in Bangkok were found to have visited one of these three restaurants – Saeb E-san Karaoke in the Thewet area and E-san Krong Kaew and Nongmai Plaza, both in the Pinklao area,” Dr Wichan Pawan, director of the Institute for Urban Disease Control and Prevention under the ministry’s Department of Disease Control, told a press conference on December 29 evening.

He advised: “People who have visited any of these three restaurants from December 15-20 should go into self-quarantine for 14 days and monitor their symptoms closely.

“If you feel sick, wear a face mask and go immediately to the nearest medical facility in a private vehicle. Don’t forget to inform the doctor about your recent travel history.”

Wichan said that besides the 22 cases related to the three restaurants, the other new cases in Bangkok can be grouped in two clusters – the first is from the communities that share the border with Samut Sakhon, such as Bang Khun Tian, Nong Khaem and Bang Khae. This group contains more than 70 patients.

“The other cluster group – one Thai patient and six Myanmar nationals – has been traced to a shoe factory in Rama II area,” he added. “The first patient from this cluster is a Myanmar man who showed symptoms on December 17. The other patients had used the same restroom he used at the factory.”

THE NATION (THAILAND)/ASIA NEWS NETWORK