September 21st, 2022
A resurgence of Covid-19 has been reported in Karenni Refugee Camp 1 on the Thai-Myanmar border. So far, more than 150 people have been infected.
Covid-19 was reported in Karenni Refugee Camp 1 in early September. Regarding the reemergence of the virus, a medical worker at the camp said the following:
“Covid-19 reappeared in the camp on September 1st. The number of infections is increasing every day. As of this afternoon, 154 people are infected, young and old. Some Covid-19 patients show no symptoms other than a runny nose. But most of them show the symptoms of the viral infection, including high body temperature, runny nose, cough and sore throat. As of this afternoon, there are 154 of them in total,” he said.
According to reports, health workers in Karenni Refugee Camp 1 are taking over the treatment of those infected with Covid-19.
The current resurgence of Covid-19 in the refugee camp began when the virus was transported to the camp by people who had travelled to other areas outside the camp, according to health workers at the camp.
“The infection was largely caused by those who went outside to work and then came back to the camp. They had contact with other people in the camp. We are running tests on them, but they are not very effective. The infection is mainly caused by those who go outside the camp and come back,” said one of the health workers.
During the first outbreak of Covid-19 in Karenni Refugee Camp 1, the situation worsened so much that residents of the camp were banned from going outside to work.
As a result of these restrictions, the refugees were unable to earn an income and had difficulty making a living.
“Some of them especially have problems making a living when they do not have enough savings. The hardship is even greater if there are elderly people there. Some people in the camps have approached the district administration for help,” said Khu Ruby, spokesman for the Karenni Civil Society Network (KCSN).
Also this time, the infection rate of Covid-19 is increasing and people in the camp are worried that the camp will be closed and the refugees will face hardship again, Khu Ruby added.
“The main problem is their livelihood because there is a lack of jobs in the camp. The people living in the camp have no outside support. They can no longer live on 250 or 300 THB a month. So they have to support themselves. Many of them go to work outside the camp. So if the disease continues to spread and the camp has to be sealed off, I think the residents of the camp will have serious problems making a living,” he said.
Karenni Refugee Camp 1 is located in Mae Hong Son district in northern Thailand and currently has over eight thousand residents.
During the first outbreak of Covid-19 at the camp, a total of 1,688 people were infected, but there were no deaths from the disease, according to health staff at Karenni Refugee Camp 1.
Sent by NMG.