Virus outbreaks at Thai factories threaten export sector, recovery

[webfact]

Migrant workers from Myanmar pass their time near their mosquito net tents at Cal-Comp Electronics factory while under quarantine, Phetchaburi, Thailand June 8, 2021. REUTERS/Stringer

 

By Panarat Thepgumpanat and Chayut Setboonsarng

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - A series of coronavirus outbreaks in Thai factories is raising concerns that the export sector could be hit hard, threatening to further undermine an economy as it struggles to recover from the pandemic's crippling blow to the crucial tourism industry.

 

The virus has swept through over 130 factories, including those supplying international brands, with more than 7,100 cases across 11 provinces, making manufacturing one of the top sources of infections along with prisons and construction camps.

 

The affected plants are just a fraction of about 63,000 factories in Thailand that employ 3.4 million, government data shows, but officials worry about the impact on exports that have kept the struggling economy moving as income from tourism has collapsed.

 

In 2020, exports accounted for 45% of gross domestic product. The tourism-reliant economy, a global trade hub, suffered a steep 6.1% contraction last year, and last month the government trimmed GDP growth forecast for this year to 1.5%-2.5% from 2.5%-3.5% previously.

 

Electronics, rubber gloves, and food are among the export sectors hit by infections, Federation of Thai Industries vice chairman Kriengkrai Thiennukul told Reuters, but he said it was too early to assess the overall impact.

 

“If it continues the damage will increase so factories have to be fully vaccinated,” he said.

 

Already, some of the manufacturers affected by the outbreak have had to curtail production.

 

Charoen Pokphand foods Pcl, which exports to 40 countries from Thailand, said a factory that was closed due to infections accounted for 10% broiler chicken production.

 

Instant noodle maker, Thai President Foods Pcl closed a factory that produces rice vermicelli and rice noodle. Overseas sales accounted for about a third of the company's semi-finished food sales.

 

Some factories continued partial operations while others have temporarily closed and quarantined their workers. The outbreak has sent industry sentiment tumbling to an 11-month low.

 

Thailand has recorded a total of 199,264 COVID-19 infections and 1,466 deaths so far, with over 80% of the new cases and 90% of the fatalities reported after April. As of now, only 1.6 million people out of a population of over 66 million have been fully vaccinated.

 

BUBBLE-AND-SEAL IMPACT

The government has been trying to contain the outbreak with a "bubble and seal" policy, which takes effect when 10% of factory workers are infected. The confirmed cases are then sent for treatment while the remainder are kept at the factory for 28 days.

 

Workers at factories and in construction camps who live on site - many of them low-wage migrant workers - have been unable to leave their workplace, even if they are not infected. The policy differs from other workplaces affected by the coronavirus.

 

“It’s not appropriate," said Suthasinee Kaewleklai, Migrant Workers Rights Network (MWRN) coordinator in Thailand, adding that authorities should be doing more tests.

 

Suthasinee said that companies should improve conditions, give more space for social distancing and increase training for workers so those who were healthy could avoid infection and move freely.

 

The Industry Ministry has given factories until the end of June to upgrade conditions including providing mandatory face masks and administering temperature checks.

 

A government official defended the bubble and seal policy, saying it allows businesses to continue operations and limits the outbreak.

 

“Those with symptoms will be sent for treatment, others will be in the bubble, if it spreads it will spread in there and not outside," health official Taweesap Siraprapasiri told Reuters.

 

"This limits the outbreak and allows business to continue."

 

(Reporting by Chayut Setboonsarng and Panarat Thepgumpanat; Editing by Shri Navaratnam)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-06-14

 

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[RichardColeman]

If its in the factories its in the populace - stop the blame game

[hotchilli]

17 hours ago, webfact said:

A series of coronavirus outbreaks in Thai factories is raising concerns that the export sector could be hit hard, threatening to further undermine an economy as it struggles to recover from the pandemic's crippling blow to the crucial tourism industry

Concerned about the exports but look at the living conditions of the workers....

I sincerely hope Europe etc are looking at where their cheap goods come from.

[hotchilli]

17 hours ago, webfact said:

A government official defended the bubble and seal policy, saying it allows businesses to continue operations and limits the outbreak.

 

“Those with symptoms will be sent for treatment, others will be in the bubble, if it spreads it will spread in there and not outside," health official Taweesap Siraprapasiri told Reuters.

Says it all.. slave camps.

[Isaan sailor]

So Thailand exports Covid-19 laced products?  Make sure you export them back to the source of the virus.  After all, you brag about them being your top trading partner.  And top source of tourists, too.   They gave it to the world, now Thailand can give some back.

[RobMuir]

17 hours ago, webfact said:

with more than 7,100 cases across 11 provinces

 

 

7,742 infections in the UK just yesterday for a bit of perspective. And nearly 10,000 in the USA, 62,000 in India.

 

Before this wave appeared a few months ago most Thai factories has stayed open after the initial lockdown last year.

 

 The measures they implemented were working well, but this highly contagious UK strain has ended that and has caused an economic bloodbath when coupled with the tourism industry being effectively shut down again to local tourism which has been helping many survive.

 

It is tragic for so many.

 

 

 

[soalbundy]

Inflation on the way then.

[Surelynot]

Once the Delta variant gets a hold these cases will be a drop in the ocean.

[connda]

23 hours ago, webfact said:

“If it continues the damage will increase so factories have to be fully vaccinated,” he said.

They'll vaccinate the entire factory, but then they'll need to drop the PCR cycle-count down to 10.  Viola! The world is cured.
Without a PCR cycle count standard, "Cases" are anything those in power want them to be and for any reason.

If a population is unvaccinated, then set the PCR Test cycle-count to 40 or above - cases, cases, cases.  "We need vaccinations!"
If a population is vaccinated, then set to PCR Test cycle-count to 27 or below - No cases! "Vaccines saved us all!"

There is only one glaring problem. 'Nuff said.

[PETERTHEEATER]

54 minutes ago, connda said:

Viola! The world is cured.

Your implying that the figures will be fiddled  ????