There were 7,679 new Covid-19 cases and 56 more fatalities recorded during the previous 24 hours, the Public Health Ministry said on Wednesday morning.

There were 7,143 cases in the general population and 536 among prison inmates.

The number of new cases rose from 7,574 announced on Tuesday, when the country recorded 78 more deaths.

On Tuesday, 8,482 Covid-19 patients were discharged from hospitals after recovering from the coronavirus.

 

Since April 1, when the third wave of Covid-19 began, Thailand has treated 1,906,579 Covid-19 patients, 1,791,037 of whom have recovered to date.

Since the pandemic started early last year, there have been 1,935,442 Covid-19 cases, with 1,818,463 complete recoveries so far.

The death toll stood at 19,300 during the third wave and 19,394 since the beginning of the pandemic.

Sumanee Wacharasin, hazard communication director of the Department of Disease Control, said in the afternoon briefing that the 56 new fatalities were aged 37 to 94 years and included two Myanmar nationals.

Bangkok had seven more deaths while a further three were reported in the adjacent provinces of Samut Prakan (1), Pathum Thani (1) and Nakhon Pathom (1).

Other central plain provinces further from the capital recorded 14 more deaths - in Rayong (3), Saraburi (2), Chon Buri (1), Trat (1), Ratchaburi (1), Prachuap Khiri Khan (1), Ang Thong (1), Suphan Buri (1), Ayutthaya (1), Samut Songkhram (1) and Sa Kaeo (1).

The Northeast had 10 new fatalities - in Khon Kaen (3), Ubon Ratchathani (2), Loei (2), Si Sa Ket (1), Nong Khai (1) and Udon Thani (1). 

The South reported 16 more deaths – in Yala (3), Satun (3), Nakhon Si Thammarat (3), Phuket (2), Pattani (1), Surat Thani (1), Narathiwat (1), Phatthalung (1) and Ranong (1).

The North saw six new fatalities – in Chiang Mai (3), Tak (1), Phrae (1) and Mae Hong Son (1).

The 7,679 new cases included 7,136 local infections and seven imported cases. Of the local infections, 6,864 were confirmed at hospitals and 536 via mass testing.

“New infections were declining steadily in all regions… Every province recorded less than 1,000 new cases,” Dr Sumanee said.

Bangkok had 772 new cases, followed by 484 in Pattani, 454 in Songkhla, 326 in Yala, 324 in Chon Buri, 322 in Chiang Mai, 249 in Trang, 242 in Samut Prakan, 207 in Narathiwat and 196 in Nakhon Si Thammarat.

“The provinces ranking second, third, fourth, seventh, ninth and tenth by their high number of new cases are in the South. New cases fell in the three southern border provinces of Yala, Narathiwat and Songkhla but were stable in Pattani. Close surveillance and quick vaccination among vulnerable people are necessary in the region,” Dr Sumanee said.

There were the clusters comprising 30 infected navy sailors in Chon Buri and 17 cases involving construction workers, eight cases at a care centre for the elderly and 35 cases in a community in Chiang Mai.

There were also clusters of funeral attendees and students at a dormitory in Mae Hong Son and clusters among prison inmates in Surin, Khon Kaen and Bangkok, she said.

The seven imported cases were from the United Kingdom (1), Cambodia (4) and Myanmar (2).

On Tuesday 97,585 people received Covid-19 treatment at hospitals (down from 98,444), including 2,205 seriously ill patients (down from 2,219) and 483 dependent on ventilators (up from 473).

Global Covid-19 cases rose by 383,198 in 24 hours to 248.28 million. The worldwide death toll went up by 6,798 to 5.03 million.

The United States had the most cases at 46.99 million, up 59,288, and the most deaths at 768,797, up 1,003.

 

 

Bangkok Post