Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin expressed concern for over 30 Thai workers in South Korea who were tested positive for Covid-19. He emphasized that the Labour Ambassadors from the Labour Office in Seoul coordinate and provide assistance following the procedures.
On December 25, 2020, Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin spoke about the case where over 30 Thai people in South Korea had tested positive for Covid-19. The Ministry of Labour had received reports by the Minister Counselor (on labour) at the Embassy in Seoul on December 24, located in Cheonan City Municipality, Chungcheongnam Province, the Republic of Korea. The report found that there were 31 Thai people with positive test results for Covid-19. From initial investigation found that the site where the Thai workers were detected positive was a commercial building in the Peang Cheon area, where the second floor served as a Thai restaurant with buffet services, with a snooker table also available. The chef was suspected of having been infected with Covid-19 but had not shown any signs. As a result, many Thais who used the services in the restaurant became are infected. Thus, 31 people, most of the Thai people were without a visa and with names still unknown, were waiting for updates from the health center. A total of 90 people were at risk, and 28 are still awaiting results.
Mr. Suchart also referred to the Ministerial Counselor’s report (on Labour) at the Embassy in Seoul that the screening service will be free. According to the Ministry of Public Health’s inquiry hotline 1339, Thai people infected with Covid-19 in South Korea will have treatment costs supported. However, people without a visa must check with each hospital again. In Seoul, the Royal Thai Embassy has established a line group called the “Covid-19 Health Adviser in South Korea” with a doctor from Thailand to provide advice through the Line application.
The South Korean government has strict measures to prohibit gathering groups of more than five people nationwide from December 24, 2020, to January 3, 2021. Many employers do not allow workers to leave their factories. For assisting the workers, the Labour Department is coordinating additional information from various departments. It is ready to work with the embassy to assist infected people, including public relations via online channels and a network of volunteers, workers, and help centers to inform people at risk to get tested. So far, South Korea has accumulated 54,770 people who have been infected, whereby 38,048 have been discharged from hospitals, 773 deaths, and 156,789 are being monitored.
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Division of Public Relations
25 December 2020
