Wednesday Covid Update: 9,317 new cases; provincial totals

9,317 new Covid-19 cases and 87 coronavirus-related deaths were reported today by Thailand’s Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. Out of the total of 363,029 Covid-19 cases reported by the CCSA since the start of the pandemic last year, the latest and most severe wave, first recorded on April 1, has accounted for 334,166 of the infections.

The 87 new coronavirus-related fatalities raise the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 2,934, with the vast majority of the deaths reported over the past several months in the recent wave. A spokesperson for the CCSA says the median age of the Covid-19 patients who recently died is 71, adding that the elderly are more prone to severe infection if they contract the virus.

Cases continue to rise with a new high of 99,511 active cases. Bangkok remains the epicentre in the latest wave with 2,332 new cases reported today, raising the total since April 1 to 103,907 confirmed infections. Health officials in the capital are monitoring around 130 Covid-19 clusters and many cases are still concentrated at markets, factories and campsites. 69 rapid response teams have been set up to visit communities and to test residents for Covid-19.

The daily case count in provinces surrounding the capital, which are also classified as “dark red” zones under maximum control to combat Covid-19, continue to be high with 1,006 new cases in Samut Prakan, 577 in Samut Sakhon, 398 in Pathum Thani, 347 in Nonthaburi, 202 in Nakhon Pathom.

The virus is still spreading in Thailand’s overcrowded prisons and health officials have been rolling out active testing to identify infections, even asymptomatic, and contain the virus. Out of the new cases reported today, 129 were found in correctional facilities. Over the past few months, more than 30,000 inmates at Thai prisons have tested positive for Covid-19.

Vaccine update…

More than 13.2 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine have been administered since February 28. With the uptick in Covid-19 infections and the limited supply of vaccine doses this month, priority has been given to those 60 and older, as well as those with underlying conditions that put them at risk of severe infection if they were to contract the virus.

Foreign residents are included in the national vaccine campaign. Expats in Bangkok who are at least 60 years old or have one of the specified health conditions can pre-register for a vaccine through Phyathai 2 Hospital. Go to ThailandIntervac.com for more information.

Provincial totals by the government’s news bureau…