Thursday Covid Update: 3,323 cases and 47 deaths

3,323 new Covid-19 cases and a record high of 47 coronavirus-related deaths were reported today by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. There has been a total of 112,354 infections recorded since April 1, the latest wave of Covid-19.

There are now 46,469 active cases. Since the start of the pandemic last year, the CCSA has reported 141,217 Covid-19 cases and 920 Covid-related deaths. The daily Covid death count continues to be on the rise with recorded fatalities surpassing 40 over the past few days.

Out of the new cases, 1,219 were in correctional facilities, adding to the thousands of inmates at around a dozen Thai prisons who have contracted the virus.

Bangkok continues to be the epicentre in the latest wave of infections with 41 clusters have been reported. Many clusters have been reported at construction camps, markets and crowded settlements in Bangkok. Local health officials are rolling out active case finding to quickly detect infections in high risk areas. Interprovincial travel is also being monitored.

Covid-19 variants first found in India, the UK and South Africa have been spread in Thailand during the recent wave of infections while a person in quarantine tested positive for the variant first found in Brazil. The outbreak in Bangkok nightlife districts back in April, sending Thailand into a new wave of infections, is said to be linked to the more contagious variant first found in the UK.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Natapanu Nopakun, who gives the CCSA report in English says that the overall Covid-19 Situation in Thailand has plateaued and the infection rates have remained stable.