On Thursday morning, it was confirmed that there were 7,058 Covid-19 cases recorded in Thailand, with 75 deaths. This is another record high, and has people concerned that a new full lockdown is imminent.
68 of those cases were from prisons. The surge in Thailand’s Covid-19 infections across the country, with many of them in Bangkok and northeastern provinces, is the result of the rapid spread of the Delta variant.
On Wednesday, The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) alarmingly predicted that the number of Covid-19 cases could spike to 10,000 a day by next week, which is around 50% higher than Thursday’s figure.
The CCSA Assistant Spokesperson Dr. Apisamai Srirangsan, has said the ongoing escalation in cases especially of the Delta variant is likely to be down to interprovincial travel. Infections originating in Bangkok and nearby provinces have been spread to 40 other provinces.
As more Delta variant cases are discovered in Bangkok, overtaking Alpha, the more contagious Delta will lead to Covid-19 infections increasing at an accelerated rate, she said.
On Wednesday, as we await the full breakdown of today’s data which is usually at around lunchtime, Bangkok was revealed as a province to still have the highest infection rates in the country, with 1,549 cases.
This was followed by Samut Prakan having 548 cases, Samut Sakhon having 434, Nakhon Pathom 266, Chon Buri 262, Chachoengsao 252, Prachuap Khiri Kan 241, Nonthaburi 235, Pathum Thani 212 and Pattani 190.
In Bangkok there were two new clusters reported on Wednesday. They were found at a Bang Na district jewellery manufacturing site and at a Min Buri district care home facility, which brought the total number under close inspection to 118.
There are 40 to 50 seriously-ill patients each day waiting for hospital admission; Dr. Apisamai also revealed at the news conference a further 200 to 300 patients who are moderately-ill are waiting for hospital beds, with the supply woefully short.
Anyone suffering from symptoms that could be classed as mild can expect to be referred to pre-admission centres, to free up the beds in hospitals for those whose cases are serious or moderate, she went on to say.
The doctor also revealed that limitation apply with regards to the home isolation scheme, with health workers deciding on a case-by-case basis for each patient, and the willingness on their part to be separated from their families, their behaviour and any underlying illnesses.
Since April 1, the cumulative number of infections is 272,309 cases with the death toll standing at 2,293 in the same period.
