Daily new Covid-19 cases could double in the next 2 weeks – CCSA

With the rapid-spreading Delta variant of the virus becoming more prevalent in Thailand, the CCSA says they expect the average number of daily new Covid-19 cases to double in the next few weeks. Health officials are now preparing for daily new cases to hit 10,000.

With the emergence of the highly transmissible mutated strain in Thailand, not only has the number of new Covid-19 infections increased, but the number of patients in critical condition and on ventilators has also increased. The CCSA expects the severe cases to continue to rise, according to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Department of Information News Division director Pensom Lertsithichai, who gave the daily CCSA report in English.

“What we are experiencing now in Thailand is the rapid spread of the Delta strain.”

The spokesperson referenced a recent study on the spread of the Delta variant in other countries, saying that based on the data found, the number of Covid-19 cases could double every 2 weeks.

“Thailand may see up to 10,000 daily new cases very soon.”

Health officials are preparing for the potential spike in Covid-19 infections and a new field hospital is being set up at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport to house patients with mild to severe symptoms while more community isolation centres are being set up in northern Bangkok, Pensom says.

The Public Health Ministry is now setting up the 5,000-bed field hospital at the airport’s Satellite 1 building, which is planned to open in early August. 1,360 beds will be for severe cases.

“So this is to help prepare for increased numbers of cases.”

Provinces outside of Bangkok are being advised to prepare more hospital beds as the infection rates in areas across Thailand are now almost on par with the rate in Bangkok, the epicentre of the latest wave, Pensom says.

Public hospitals in the capital have already been overwhelmed with Covid-19 patients with reports of a limited number of available beds, particularly in intensive care units. Some patients with severe symptoms have been waiting at home until a hospital bed becomes available, Pensom says. The National Institute for Emergency Medical Services is providing transport to the hospital for patients with severe symptoms who have been waiting at home.

Today, the CCSA reported 6,519 new Covid-19 cases and 54 coronavirus-related deaths. The Alpha variant of the virus has accounted for most cases in the latest and most severe wave of Covid-19, first recorded on April 1 in Bangkok’s Thong Lor and Ekkamai nightlife districts.