300 swabs of around 1,000 returnees from Thailand could be taken daily for Covid-19 tests

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More than 1,000 Myanmar workers are returning to their homeland daily through Myanmar-Thailand Friendship Bridge No (2) Myawady border gate. 

From May 23 to 25, there were 2,995 returnees with 1,014 returning under the arrangement of the Myanmar embassy and 1,981 returning under their own arrangement. 

The Myawady District commissioner said swabs of the returnees were sent to the National Health Laboratory in Yangon for Covid-19 tests, but only about 300 samples could be sent daily. 

Those returning under their own arrangement said they were charged almost double for transport.

“If Myanmar workers want to return as they face difficulties in Thailand, I urge them to come now because the Thai government has relaxed travel restrictions. We are making collaborative efforts to accept them at BCF zone,”  said Aung Naing Oo, head of Myawady District Red Cross Society. 

Around 40,000 Myanmar workers have informed the embassy about their return. Myanmar authorities are preparing more quarantine centers in Myawady to accept about 2,500 returnees a day. 

Myanmar workers are re-entering Myanmar through Myawady border gate as well as Ranaung-Kawthoung and Mesai-Tachilek border routes.

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