The Ko Samui Covid-19 Cluster and late Dancing at Black Club Samui

Thethaiger.com recently reported that some bars and clubs in Koh Samui continue to operate seemingly indifferent to Covid-19 restrictions in place without any masks or social distancing and during periods that nightlife was shut down nationally. Now 16 Covid-19 infections have been traced to the Black Bamboo Club in Chaweng. The Black” is an interior nightclub. “Black Bamboo” is its garden bar with a restaurant licence.

On Facebook the owner of the Black Bamboo restaurant gave the following declaration:

"I, Tinnakorn Poolsawad, owner of “The Black Bamboo Restaurant” at Chaweng Beach Koh Samui Surat Thani, want to explain to everyone that the restaurant was opened regularly to customers and has been filtering out Covid-19 by checking temperature, hand sanitisers, free masks for customers and ensure that all our staffs wear masks at all time. However, we received a notice that one of our customers from a couple of days ago got Covid-19. They had no symptoms or signs of Covid-19 so we offered them service as usual and were informed today that they have contracted Covid with no information of when or where they got it from. The Black Bamboo Restaurant will then be closed for 14 days from today onwards to filter out staff that are at risk, allow them to be quarantined, tested for Covid-19 and, in association with the government, we will undergo sanitary precautions required for Covid-19."

The statement does not say, that the guests weared masks all the time.

The authorities on Ko Samui urged people who have stayed at following places should contact Ko Samui Hospital for a Covid-Test:
The Black Bamboo on 16 July from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM. On July 17, 2021, from 10:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. and on July 23, 2021 at 10:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Speedy Lounge and Bar Lamai on 16 July from 9:30 PM - 10:30 PM.

The authorities on Ko Samui informed, that a 32 years old women working as cashier at a fitness center went to a birthday party and differenz places, before her infection has been discovered. She did not wear a mask. The authorities now prepare a place with up to 100 beds for infected people. Pol Col Yuttana Sirisombat, Superintendent of Bophut Police Station, was assigned with an investigation. Ultra bodies gym, where the women worked, announced closure until august 11 on Facebook.


Update on 29 July: 38 new Covid-19 cases detected from Black Bamboo cluster. Around 600 people went to covid-19 tests on Wednesday according to Samui Info by Nicha after the announcement by the authorities.

Update on 30 July: 40 new Covid-19 cases detected from Black Bamboo cluster. The governor of Surat Thani says the covid-19 cases on Ko Samui are not related to tourists arriving under the Samui Plus model or Phuket Sandbox model. Therefore the Samui Plus model can continue. But "Bangkok Post" writes: Samui Plus programme teeters on brink. Samui authorities informed, that by testing they found totally 99 COVID-19 infections so far, after Black Bamboo Cluster had been detected in Chaweng area.