People queueing outside Pattani Municipal Office today to receive a dose of the Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine in southern Thailand. – Bernama photo
BANGKOK (July 23): Amid concerns over reports that people are dying of Covid-19 on the streets and in their homes while awaiting help to arrive, Thailand today logged the biggest single day spike for a third consecutive day when it reported 14,575 new cases,
The total infections in the kingdom now stand at 467,707, and over the last 24 hours a total of 114 fatalities reported with the death toll now at 3,811.
Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) assistant spokesperson Dr Apisamai Srirangsan said the new cases consists of 14,562 local transmission and 13 imported cases. The local transmission includes 1,072 prisoners as well.
“To date, a total of 143,744 people remain hospitalized, including 3,984 in critical condition and 900 on ventilators,” she said during the Covid-19 daily briefing here today.
Dr Apisamai said the new fatalities involved 61 men and 53 women aged between 14 and 94 years old, and 111 of them Thais, one Cambodia, Myanmar and Pakistan national respectively.
“The youngest fatality is a 14-year-old bed-ridden teen with epilepsy,” she said.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan o-cha expressed concern on reports that people had died of Covid-19 on the street and in their homes while waiting treatment.
Therefore, he instructed all relevant agencies to find ways to bring patients to hospitals for treatment.
“A picture like this must not be seen again. It is the responsibility of all agencies, not just the Public Health Ministry. Agencies involved must find ways to take these people to field hospitals,” he was quoted saying by Bangkok Post.
Prayuth said he had instructed all agencies involved to overcome the problem.
Prayuth’s remark came after local media reported three bodies were left lying in Bangkok’s street for almost 12 hours before it was collected by the authorities and charity group on Tuesday night. One of the bodies were tested positive for Covid-19.
Meanwhile, Dr Apisamai said there were 1,811 Covid-19 patients, either asymptomatic or with mild symptoms undergoing home isolation to reduce bed shortages in hospitals and field hospitals.
“Bangkok Metropolitan Authority (BMA) will speed up the search for Covid-19 patients and get them into the medicalcare system as soon as possible to reduce infections,” she said.
Starting today, all public parks, sports venues, spas and massage parlors, hair salons and barber shop, libraries, museums, learning centres, trade fair centers, convention centers, and exhibition halls will be closed for two-week until August 2 in Bangkok and 12 “maximum and strict controlled areas” or “dark red zones” provinces.
Earlier this week, all shopping malls and stores except supermarkets, convenience stores and pharmacies are closed.
In Bangkok and neighbouring provinces, the government has imposed stringent measures including night curfew from 9 pm to 4 am and ban public gathering of more than five people. – Bernama