The Department of Disease Control (DDC) has confirmed that schools should remain open despite a seasonal rise in Covid-19 cases, citing that proper screening and isolation protocols are sufficient to manage the spread of the virus within educational institutions.
Dr Jurai Wongsawat, spokesperson for the DDC, said on Wednesday that several clusters have been detected recently, including six outbreaks in prisons involving 198 cases, five in schools with 258 cases, two in military camps totalling 178 cases, and one hospital cluster with 35 cases.
“We recommend schools intensify screening of students and staff. If infection is found, home isolation is sufficient. There is no need to close schools — except in extreme cases where control becomes difficult,” said Dr Jurai.
She urged schools to notify health officials immediately if two or more cases are detected in the same classroom within a one-week period.
Despite these reassurances, some schools have shifted to online learning out of caution.
The number of infections is expected to rise further during the rainy season, a period often associated with increased flu activity. Children remain a high-risk group for respiratory infections, including Covid-19.
Dr Jurai noted that the current outbreak pattern in Thailand mirrors recent surges observed in countries such as Singapore and China. “It is now in a surge phase, but with lower severity,” she said.
Covid-19 cases have risen sharply following the Songkran festival in April. The number of infections jumped from 9,083 cases between April 20–26 to 67,484 between May 18–24, surpassing both the five-year average and last year’s figures for the same period.
As of now, 211,717 cases and 51 deaths have been reported in 2025.
The current infection rate stands at 326 per 100,000 people. The fatality rate remains relatively low at 0.08 deaths per 100,000, with 78% of fatalities occurring in elderly individuals, most of whom suffered lung complications due to the virus.
The DDC also confirmed that the JN.1 variant remains the dominant strain in Thailand, accounting for 63% of sequenced cases. The XEC variant has declined to just 3%, aligning with global trends.
The Ministry of Public Health continues to encourage preventive measures, including wearing masks, frequent handwashing, and avoiding crowded places.
Travellers returning from countries experiencing ongoing outbreaks are advised to monitor their health closely.
