Outbreak investigation of COVID-19 in a Construction Site Labor Camp, Laksi, Bangkok Between 21 May to 2 June 2021.

Abstract

This is an outbreak investigation of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which aims to study confirm the outbreak and applied principles of epidemiology (occurrence, distribution, and determinants) to implement control and prevention COVID-19. This is a descriptive study, in which data was collected during COVID-19 investigation among laborers in Laksi Construction site camps, Bangkok. There were 1,186 confirmed cases with an attack rate of 81.34 %. Most were male (75%) when male -to- female ratio of 3:1. Most of them were 30-39 years old. The nationalities were Burmese (50%), Thai (34%) and Cambodian (16 %). Most of them were general workers (83.50%).

COVID-19 investigation showed that the index case was a 58-year old female laborer. The onset of symptom was on May 7, 2021. SARS-CoV-2 (Indian strain B.1.617.2) was detected by RT-PCR on May 10, 2021 by Chulabhorn Hospital Laboratory. She reported contacting with 5 housekeepers in this construction site camp, who later tested positive for COVID-19. The environmental study showed crowed housing for workers to rent in labor camp. Each worker’s compound was overcrowded and bathrooms were shared among many workers.

Suggestions for risk factors for the disease: This outbreak occurred in a crowded construction site camp. Risk factors included living and dining together and labor migration from risk areas. Therefore, it is necessary to emphasize preventive measures in the workplace by educating workers, improving the environment within the labor camp, and implement COVID-19 surveillance screening for current and new workers. Workers should also be separated into sub-groups, depending on the nature of work.