MYEIK------As there have been increased numbers of COVID-19 infected cases in Mahachai Province, Thailand, Thai authorities temporarily closed Mawtaung-Sakhun gate which is one of the Myanmar-Thai border trade gates.
The Mawtaung gate situated in Taninthari Township, Myeik District, Taninthari Region, is directly exporting marine products to the Seafood market in Mahachai which is also known as Samut Sakhon province in Thailand.
In Recent days, many Myanmar migrants in Mahachai province tested positive for COVID-19 virus, prompting Thai authorities to close wholesale shrimp markets and factories in Mahachai province as well as Mawtaung-Sakhon border trade gate.
“Talay seafood market and wholesale shrimp market are situated in Mahachai province. When the owner of wholesale shrimp market tested those people in the markets, many people including Myanmar migrants have tested positive for COVID-19. Thailand reported 650 COVID-19 confirmed cases until the evening of December 19th.
However, there were over 680 cases in the morning of December 21st. It is the largest wholesale shrimp market in the whole of Thailand. The market distributes marine products across Thailand. There are about 8,000 factories and workshops in Mahachai and then most Myanmar citizens worked in the factories and workshops. Thai authorities announced on December 21st that a 90% outbreak of COVID-19 saw Myanmar citizens. Around 20 trucks are moving towards the Mahachai from Sakhon gate in Taninthari Region. Now, those truck drivers are being kept under Quarantine,” said Aung Kyi Myint, Liaison officer of Myeik-Parakyut Sister City.
Provincial vice governor Surasak Phonyangsong revealed the latest information at 2pm on Sunday. The total number of those infected in the latest outbreak in the province has risen to 694.He added that more than 90 per cent of patients were migrant workers linked to the Mahachai Market.
The Sakhon trade gate is a special temporary gate in Thailand. The gate has been allowed dealing of dry goods and unfreezes marine products only due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Since the beginning of COVID-19 outbreak in March, the gate banned the arrival and departure of people. Now, the gate temporarily suspends the trading.
