After some Thai Buddhist monks and nationals tested positive for COVID-19 in Las Vegas and Los Angeles, Thai people in the United States are advised to take precautionary measures and monitor their conditions closely.
The Spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Director-General of the Department of Information, Cherdkiat Atthakor, said three out of five monks at a Buddhist temple in Las Vegas have COVID-19. Two of them are being treated in hospital and are recovering. The other monk is in an isolated room of the temple, as his condition is not severe. The temple’s abbot and another monk tested negative, but they are quarantined separately.
Thai temples in Las Vegas announced their closure in February. After the easing of lockdown restrictions in July, the temples have reopened for visitors and the monks have not performed religious duties outside their premises. A former abbot of Buddha Pavana Temple there died of old age and complications from an infection on July 11.
The Royal Thai Consulate-General in LA reported that four people, working in a Thai restaurant, tested positive for COVID-19, but their conditions are improving. They are currently in isolation in their respective homes. The consulate-general has delivered protective gear to Thai temples and communities in Las Vegas, while closely monitoring the condition of the two monks. The number of COVID-19 cases in the US remains high. Thai nationals in the US are advised to protect themselves. If they develop suspicious symptoms, they are advised to seek medical attention immediately.
