Integrative Effects between a Bubble and Seal Program and Workers’ Compliance to Health Advice on Successful COVID-19 Transmission Control in a Factory in Southern Thailand

Chanon Kongkamol, Thammasin Ingviya, Sarunyou Chusri, Smonrapat Surasombatpattana, Atichart Kwanyuang, Sitthichok Chaichulee, Intouch Sophark, Chaiwat Seesong, Thanawan Sorntavorn, Tanyawan Detpreechakul, Pindanunant Phaiboonpornpong, Kamol Krainara, Pornchai Sathirapanya and Chutarat Sathirapanya ()
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Chanon Kongkamol: Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai 90110, Songkhla, Thailand
Thammasin Ingviya: Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai 90110, Songkhla, Thailand
Sarunyou Chusri: Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai 90110, Songkhla, Thailand
Smonrapat Surasombatpattana: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai 90110, Songkhla, Thailand
Atichart Kwanyuang: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai 90110, Songkhla, Thailand
Sitthichok Chaichulee: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai 90110, Songkhla, Thailand
Intouch Sophark: Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai 90110, Songkhla, Thailand
Chaiwat Seesong: Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai 90110, Songkhla, Thailand
Thanawan Sorntavorn: Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai 90110, Songkhla, Thailand
Tanyawan Detpreechakul: Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai 90110, Songkhla, Thailand
Pindanunant Phaiboonpornpong: Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai 90110, Songkhla, Thailand
Kamol Krainara: Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai 90110, Songkhla, Thailand
Pornchai Sathirapanya: Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai 90110, Songkhla, Thailand
Chutarat Sathirapanya: Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai 90110, Songkhla, Thailand

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 24, 1-13

Abstract: Applying health measures to prevent COVID-19 transmission caused disruption of businesses. A practical plan to balance public health and business sustainability during the pandemic was needed. Herein, we describe a “Bubble and Seal” (B&S) program implemented in a frozen seafood factory in southern Thailand. We enrolled 1539 workers who lived in the factory dormitories. First, the workers who had a high fatality risk were triaged by RT-PCR tests, quarantined and treated if they had COVID-19. Newly diagnosed or suspected COVID-19 workers underwent the same practices. The non-quarantined workers were regulated to work and live in their groups without contact across the groups. Workers’ personal hygiene and preventive measures were strongly stressed. Between the 6th and 9th weeks of the program, the post-COVID-19 infection status (PCIS) of all participants was evaluated by mass COVID-19 antibody or RT-PCR tests. Finally, 91.8% of the workers showed positive PCIS, which was above the number required for program exit. Although no workers had received a vaccination, there was only one case of severe COVID-19 pneumonia, and no evidence of COVID-19 spreading to the surrounding communities. Implementation of the B&S program and workers’ adherence to health advice was the key to this success.

Keywords: COVID-19; factory; transmission; quarantine; dormitory (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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