The Public Health Ministry announced yesterday morning that 4,753 new Covid-19 infections had been detected in Thailand over the past 24 hours, with a daily case toll below 5,000 for the first time since June.
The figure included 4,696 cases found among the general population and 57 among inmates, the government said.
Health authorities also reported 27 more deaths on Monday, including two recorded in Bangkok and another in the adjacent province of Nakhon Pathom. Ten more fatalities were reported in other central plain provinces: Rayong (2), Ratchaburi (2), Lop Buri (2), Chanthaburi (1), Chachoengsao (1), Sa Kaeo (1), and Saraburi (1).
The South had five more deaths, including three in Mae Hong Son and one in Chiang Mai, Nan, and Sukhothai.
In the north, authorities reported nine deaths: in Mae Hong Son (3) Chiang Mai (1), Nan (1), and Sukhothai (1), while the northeast had three more fatalities, one each in Udon Thani, Chaiyaphum, and Mukdahan.
The Monday case toll included 4,684 local infections and 12 imported cases. Local transmissions were detected in hospitals (4,486) and through mass testing (198).
Bangkok had the highest numbers, with 605 new infections, followed by Nakhon Si Thammarat (381), Songkhla (354), Surat Thani (254), Chiang Mai (186), Samut Prakan (149), Chon Buri (147), Phuket (133), Pattani (121) and Nakhon Ratchasima (110).
According to official data, the 12 cases included three arrivals from the United Kingdom, two from the United States, two from Israel, and one from the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, Malaysia, Germany, and Cambodia.
About 122,400 people have traveled to Thailand by air since it reopened its borders to international tourists on Nov. 1. The government said 16 (0.13%) travelers have tested positive for Covid-19.
The drop in Thailand’s coronavirus cases comes as the daily case toll skyrocketed in many countries, including the UK, Turkey, Germany, France and Italy, said the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA)’s spokesperson Apisamai Srirangson.
In Asia, new cases remained stable, but Vietnam reported an increase in infections, with 12.9936 found on Monday.
Meanwhile, worldwide governments tighten current controls in response to the new and potentially more contagious Covid-19 variant Omicron, first identified in South Africa.
