Gem traders at heart of new cluster
109 traders from Africa test positive
More than 100 gemstone traders from Africa have come down with Covid-19 over four days in Chanthaburi, although none carried the African or Indian variants of the virus.
The provincial public office said the 109 traders tested positive May 6-9. They are from Guinea, Mali, Cote D’Ivoire and Gambia. Chanthaburi has attracted many traders of precious stones from Africa.
Medical workers from hospitals and the provincial health office also set up a testing site at a Buddhist centre targeting 250 residents who came into contact with the African traders.
Police warned the traders must comply strictly with health measures and go into quarantine for at least 14 days.
Head of the African trader group, Cewse, police some traders were infected possibly…
