By Ploy Phutpeng Klong Luek, Thailand – Thai officials are effectively curbing the spread of COVID-19 at the country’s border with Cambodia.
But unless current personnel and resources are increased, they may find it difficult to cope when traders, workers and travelers resume crossing the border in large numbers.
Thailand’s busiest border checkpoint is at Klong Luek, in the eastern province of Sa Kaeo. Up to 30,000 people and 400 trucks used to cross this checkpoint each day until Thailand closed it on 23 March as part of national virus control measures, said Chaiyonh Kuhlab, a senior provincial health officer.
Cross-border trading here is worth about 100 billion baht (US$ 3.2 billion) a year. But now Thailand only allows in pull carts,