Wednesday Covid Update: Record high of 13,002 new cases; provincial totals

A record high of 13,002 new Covid-19 cases was reported today by the Centre of Covid-19 Situation Administration. Thailand now has 131,411 active Covid-19 cases.

Another 108 coronavirus-related deaths were reported today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 3,610.

Since the start of the pandemic last year, the CCSA has reported a total of 439,477 Covid-19 infections. The latest and most severe wave of the virus in Thailand, first recorded on April 1, has accounted for 410,614 of those infections.

Of the new cases, 1,049 were found in correctional facilities, an uptick over the past several weeks. The latest wave of the virus spread to Thailand’s overcrowded prisons, infecting more than 30,000 inmates. The Department of Correction has been rolling out active testing to identify infections, even asymptomatic, and contain the virus.

The majority of cases remain concentrated in Bangkok, the epicentre of infections, and surrounding provinces. 2,921 new Covid-19 cases were reported in Bangkok followed by 932 in Samut Sakhon, 661 in Nonthaburi, 656 in Samut Prakan, and 350 in Pathum Thani.

Cases are also still high in Chon Buri, which includes Pattaya. The province reported 636 new Covid-19 cases today while neighbouring provinces Chachoengsao reported 374 and Rayong reported 305.

There has also been an uptick of Covid-19 cases in Thailand’s Northeastern region known as Isaan.

Over the past several days, the daily Covid-19 infection count has been over 10,000. In a previous statement, a CCSA spokesperson said that – worst-case scenario – daily infections could reach 20,000 or even 30,000.

More updates…

• Phuket has tightened entry restrictions and is now requiring all domestic travellers entering the island province to be vaccinated against Covid-19 and also test negative for the virus before arrival.
• Thailand signed an agreement for the purchase of 20 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The order is expected to arrive later this year.
• Checkpoints are being set up in the 13 “dark red” provinces to restrict and monitor interprovincial travel. According to the government’s news bureau, travellers passing through the checkpoint will need to register with https://covid-19.in.th and present the QR code to officers.

Provincial totals by the government’s news bureau…