Thailand’s daily Covid death toll breaches 100 for third day, new infections decline

As people throughout the country begin their Songkran break, Thailand’s daily death toll from Covid-19 has breached the 100 mark for 3 consecutive days — with 108 deaths, 105 and 101 deaths reported for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, respectively. Today, less than 20,000 new infections were reported, compared to yesterday’s nearly 22,400 – in that case a downward trend.

Sunday marked the first time the nation recorded a hundred daily deaths from the virus this year, with the Public Health Ministry reporting more than 25,000 new infections, on par with the approximately 25,000 patients who had recovered were discharged from hospitals. Yesterday, more than 28,050 patients who had recovered were were discharged from hospitals.

As of Sunday, almost 251,000 patients were being treated in hospitals and other medical facilities across the country. Meanwhile, there were nearly 2,000 hospital patients were receiving treatment for lung infections, nearly 850 of which were on ventilators.

After the Songkran holiday, the daily infection rate is predicted to shoot up to between 50,000-100,000 cases, according to the Head of Siriraj Hospital Faculty of Medicine, Dr. Prasit Watanapa. His prediction has not been repeated by either the CCSA or the Thai governent.

The silver lining, he says, is that the daily death toll likely will not not exceed 200. (even though that is approx. twice the current daily toll from Covid-related deaths). If it does, the amount of severe cases would be enough to overwhelm existing treatment facilities.

Meanwhile, the amount of severe case rose to more than 2,000 over the weekend, according to Dr. Nitipat Jiarakul, director of the Thoracic Society of Thailand, who said the trend is likely to continue before leveling off and eventually declining.

Thailand is one of the few countries in Asia with an increasing daily infection and death rate.

Starting last Friday evening, Thais began leaving Bangkok and other major cities for domestic vacation destinations or their home provinces. The official Songkran public holiday begins on Wednesday, April 13, and ends on Friday, April 15, though celebrations will begin today and last through the weekend.

• Read: Songkran a litmus test for Thailand’s economic recovery, tourism industry revival

Following is the daily death toll so far for the month of April:

April 1: 92
April 2: 96
April 3: 97
April 4: 97
April 5: 91
April 6: 94
April 7: 91
April 8: 89
April 9: 98
April 10: 108
April 11: 105
April 12: 101

SOURCE: ThaiPBS | BangkokPost | CCSA