A police officer involved in the crackdown on Sunday’s protest had likely contracted Covid-19 after visiting Samut Sakorn in February, and before being deployed to pro-democracy protests that month.
Senior Sargent-Major Somyot Nuancharoen travelled to his home province on February 18 and came into contact with a friend who later told him he was infected with Covid-19 on March 2.
In the interim Somyot was stationed at the parliament during protests on February 19 and 20, as well as during clashes with protestors at the weekend.
Somyot took a test on March 3, a day after hearing from his friend, and was found positive.
A further 20 at-risk individuals who have come into contact with Somyot have been identified.
Timeline of patient’s movements:
February 18: Travelled to Samut Sakorn, met infected friend and returned to Bangkok.
February 19: On duty at the protest in front of Parliament in the arrest van
February 20: On duty at the protest in front of Parliament in the arrest van
February 21 & 22: Stayed home
February 23 & 24: Station duty from 8 am to 4 pm and then returned home
February 25 & 26: Station duty from 4 pm to midnight and then returned home
February 27: On duty at a protest at the Youth and Women Welfare Center
February 28: On duty at the protest at the 1st Infantry Regiment in the arrest van
March 1: Played football at venue near the train station on Rama 9
March 2: Was alerted by infected friend in Samut Sakorn. Took test at 3:30 pm and self-quarantined at police flat.
March 3: Test results came back positive for Covid-19
