Comparison of Disease Prevalence and Severity of SARS-CoV-2 Infection between Two Factory Accommodation Isolations in Southern Thailand

Objective: In 2021, the Thai Ministry of Public Health implemented policies known as “Factory Accommodation Isolation” (FAI) to provide care for confirmed patients with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). FAIs were established to alleviate strain on the healthcare system. However, the effectiveness of FAIs in alleviating COVID-19 remains unclear due to a lack of knowledge concerning the extent of the outbreak and the symptoms, severity, and management of the disease in workers’ factories. This study aimed to describe and compare the characteristics, severity, and incidence of COVID-19 cases in two FAI facilities. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in two factories related to concrete manufacturing and the production of rubber gloves in Songkhla, Thailand, between October 2021 and November 2021. Results: The prevalence of COVID-19 infection in the concrete manufacturing factory, where prevention measures for COVID-19 were implemented early, and in the rubber glove factory was 38% and 21%, respectively. Patients from the concrete manufacturing factory reported a higher prevalence of symptoms, including cough, muscle pain, loss of sense of smell, and difficulty in breathing than did those from the rubber glove factory. Patients with incomplete vaccination had a higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms. Conclusion: FAI design, number of workers, and crowded working spaces were associated with COVID-19 outbreaks in the workplace. This study showed that caring for patients with COVID-19 in FAI facilities can be performed safely while reducing the use of medical resources and personnel, which should be reserved for severe infections.