Coronavirus Covid-19 Update in Thailand

Record 91 Covid deaths, 9,326 new cases

PUBLISHED : 10 JUL 2021 AT 08:01

Infections top 3,000 in Bangkok as capital region braces for curfew and closures

Ninety-one Covid-19 fatalities and 9,326 new cases were reported on Saturday, according to the Public Health Ministry.

Of the new cases, 9,134 were found among the general population and 192 among prison inmates.

Over the past 24 hours, 3,841 patients recovered and were discharged from hospitals.

Since April 1, when the third coronavirus wave began, there have been 297,969 patients, 216,492 of whom have recovered. Since the pandemic started early last year, 336,158 people have contracted the virus and 243,918 have been discharged from treatment.

The death toll was 2,531 in the third wave and 2,625 from the beginning of the pandemic early last year. The previous high of daily Covid-19 fatalities was 75 on Thursday when the country logged 7,058 new infections. The increasingly rapid spread of the virus prompted authorities on Friday to announce tougher containment measures in the 10 hardest-hit provinces, effective from Monday and lasting for at least two weeks.

The 91 new people who died, 47 of whom were men, were aged between 26 and 98 years, with an average age of 67, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration said in its afternoon briefing on Saturday.

Forty-four of those who died had hypertension, 38 had diabetes and 21 had high cholesterol. Twenty-five caught the disease from family members and 25 others from colleagues and neighbours.

Bangkok led with the most deaths (51), followed by Samut Prakan (9), Nonthaburi (8), Pathum Thani (5), Nakhon Pathom (4). Two each were reported in Khon Kaen, Roi Et and Narathiwat, and one each in Phetchaburi, Maha Sarakham, Kamphaeng Phet, Songkhla, Phetchabun, Chachoengsao, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Prachuap Khiri Khan.

Bangkok again logged the most new cases at 3,191, followed by 672 in Pathum Thani, 603 in Samut Prakan, 551 in Samut Sakhon, 359 in Chon Buri, 334 in Nonthaburi, 225 in Songkhla, 207 in Lop Buri, 175 in Saraburi and 173 in Pattani.

The 9,326 new cases over the past 24 hours included 9,307 local infections and 19 imported cases. Of the local infections, 6,567 were confirmed at hospitals, 2,548 via mass testing and 192 at prisons.

The 19 imported cases were from Ethiopia (1), the United Arab Emirates (3), Indonesia (1), Russia (1), Cambodia (1), Myanmar (12). They were a Cameroonian teacher, an Arab man, an Indonesia engineer, a Russian teacher, eight Myanmar nationals, and seven Thais. Five of the Thai returnees and seven of the Myanmar nationals had entered the country illegally or via natural border crossing.

Global Covid cases rose by 490,002 in 24 hours to 186.83 million. The worldwide death toll went up by 8,287 to 4.03 million. The US had the most cases at 34.71 million, up 27,237. Thailand ranked 62nd.

Source: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2146543/record-91-covid-deaths-9-326-new-cases

Thailand: Covid-19 Vaccination Plan, latest on 6 May 2021

Latest on 6 May 2021 the presidents of foreign chambers of commerce in Thailand received the following update on vaccinations, obtained from the Board of Trade of Thailand:

SUMMARY OF THAILAND’S VACCINATION PLAN

The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry, and Banking (JSCCIB) met with the Prime Minister during the week of 26 April in order to give full support to the Government, and received the following information:

- Currently the vaccine procurement is at the Government to Government (G2G) level only;

- The government has the responsibility to purchase the highest quantity of vaccines as possible;

- At least 100 million doses will be procured in 2021;

- 63 million doses are procured under G2G agreements. 61 million doses will be supplied by Astra Zeneca, which are made in Thailand. The certification is in the last phase of approval and will be released to the government in June. Another 2 million doses are from Sinovac;

- 37 million doses will be acquired from other manufacturer such as Pfizer, Johnson and Johnson, etc;

- The aim is to vaccinate 10 - 15 million people per month or 300,000 – 500,000 people per day, starting in June;

- The Board of Trade supports the Government by providing venues and distribution of vaccines;

- There will be no discrimination between Thais and foreigners;

- The first priority group for vaccinations are people living in the “Dark Red” zone (dangerous zone) with the most infections;

- The second priority group are elderly people over the age of 60 and those with underlying illnesses;

- The rest of the population will be vaccinated thereafter;

- Different types of vaccines will be used to suit the safety of appropriate age groups;

- 3 million doses are reserved for the foreign community including foreign workers;

- The foreign community may receive the vaccine in the third or fourth quarter of 2021 (Oct-Nov), but those with Thai spouses may receive their vaccinations earlier;

- The Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce in Thailand (JFCCT) submitted to the Board of Investment of Thailand (BOI) a request to prioritize the vaccination of foreign investors/business executives. We are waiting for BOI’s feedback.

- In May, all Thai medical staff will be vaccinated;

- Alternatively, there are attempts from private hospitals to purchase vaccines from Moderna and Sinopharm through Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA);

- The FDA currently has approved the Astra Zeneca, Sinovac and Johnson & Johnson vaccines;

- The vaccines currently undergoing FDA approval processes are Moderna, Covaxin, Sputnik V and Pfizer BioNTech;

- Chulalongkorn University and Mahidol University are developing local vaccines, expected to be released early next year. These vaccines are now undergoing the second stage of trials.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus.

Most people who fall sick with COVID-19 will experience mild to moderate symptoms and recover without special treatment.

HOW IT SPREADS

The virus that causes COVID-19 is mainly transmitted through droplets generated when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or exhales. These droplets are too heavy to hang in the air, and quickly fall on floors or surfaces.

You can be infected by breathing in the virus if you are within close proximity of someone who has COVID-19, or by touching a contaminated surface and then your eyes, nose or mouth.

Source: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

On 29 June 2020, the Government of Thailand has extended the Emergency Decrees to 31 July 2020 and allows 11 groups to enter Thailand including:

1) Thai nationals

2) Persons with exemption or persons being considered, permitted or invited by the Prime Minister, or the head of responsible persons accountable for resolving state of emergency issues to enter the Kingdom, as necessary. Such consideration, permission or invitation may be subject to specified conditions and time limits.

3) Non-Thai nationals who are a spouse, parents, or children of a Thai national.

4) Non-Thai nationals who hold a valid certificate of residence, or permission to take up residence in the Kingdom

5) Non-Thai nationals who hold a valid work permit or are allowed to work in the Kingdom, including their spouse or children.

6) Carriers of necessary goods, subject to immediate return after completion.

7) Crew members who are required to travel into the Kingdom on a mission, and have a specified date and time for return.

8) Non-Thai nationals who are students of educational institutions approved by Thai authorities, including the parents or guardians of the students.

9) Non-Thai nationals who are in need of medical treatment in Thailand, and their attendants. However, this shall not include medical treatment for COVID–19.

10) Individuals in diplomatic missions, consular affairs, international organizations, government representatives, foreign government agencies working in Thailand, or individual in other international agencies as permitted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including their spouse, parents, or children.

11) Non-Thai nationals who are permitted to enter the Kingdom under a special arrangement with a foreign country.

After that The Civil Aviation Authorities of Thailand announced the Notification on Conditions for International Flight Permit to Thailand, and will be effective from July 1st 2020. The following aircraft will be allowed to fly over, fly into or out of, and take off from or land at an international airport in the Kingdom when permit is given by the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand:

1) State or military aircraft

2) Emergency landing flights

3) Technical landing flights without disembarkation

4) Humanitarian aid, medical and relief flights

5) Repatriation flights

6) Cargo flights

Source: https://ddc.moph.go.th/viralpneumonia/eng/index.php