22 members of Thai women's volleyball team test positive for COVID-19

BANGKOK: The Thailand Volleyball Association announced that 22 members of its national women's volleyball team have tested positive for COVID-19, forcing the team to withdraw from the FIVB Volleyball Women's Nations League which will be held in Rimini, Italy.

It said four sports science staffers who trained the athletes at their camp in Nakhon Pathom tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday.

"We immediately sent all 37 athletes, coaches and other staffers who came in close contact (with those infected) for testing. The test results came out this morning and 22 of them were infected," the association said.

The FIVB Volleyball Women's Nations League will be held from May 25 to June 25. A total of16 women's teams are scheduled to compete.

Over the last 24 hours, Thailand recorded 1,983 new COVID-19 cases and 34 deaths, the highest daily fatalities, bringing the total infections in the kingdom to 88,907 and 486 deaths, said the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).

Of the new cases, 1,974 were local transmission and nine imported cases including three Malaysians.

Meanwhile, Thailand's Corrections Department said a total of 2,835 inmates tested positive for COVID-19 at two detention facilities in Bangkok. This was revealed in a statement by its director-general Aryut Sinthoppan.

The two detention facilities were where some protest leaders were held and tested positive for COVID-19.

Earlier, Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul who spent eight weeks in jail pending trial on charges of insulting the monarchy said she had tested positive for COVID-19. Panusaya who was freed on bail last week said she was receiving treatment at a hospital.

Two other anti-government protest leaders, human rights lawyer Arnon Nampa and Chukiat Saengowng, who remain in detention, have also tested positive for COVID-19.

Meanwhile, two other protest leaders, Parit Chiwarak, 22, and Chaiamorn Kaewwiboonpan, 32, were released on bail Tuesday.

The duo have been denied bail several times on charges related to anti-government protests last year. Both faced several charges including under Section 112 of the country's Penal Code, also known as lese majeste law for insulting the monarchy at a major demonstration last year.

Both were released with conditions including that they remain in Thailand, refrain from defaming the monarchy and participating in protests. Parit was allowed to be released on 400,000 baht (US$12,830) bail while Chaiamorn was allowed to be released on 250,000 baht (US$8,000) bail.

-- BERNAMA