PHUKET: Five more Covid-19 deaths and another 238 infections, two of them from the Phuket sandbox programme, were reported in this island province.

Provincial health chief Kusak Kukiatikoon said on Friday that the coronavirus infections were found in all three districts of the province, and the occupancy rate of hospital beds was also high.

More community isolation centres and hospitels had been opened.

There were nine clusters -  at the provincial prison, a Super Cheap Market store, among fishermen, construction sites and markets, said Dr Kusak. Mass testing using antigen kits at communities and workplaces continued. 

 

The latest figure showed 236 new local infections and two among tourists who arrived under the Phuket sandbox, or 238 cases in total, he said. 

Another five fatalities were reported, all in vulnerable groups - people aged 60 years or more and those with underlying health issues.

Four of those who died had not been vaccinated or were not fully vaccinated. The fifth was aged 38, with an underlying health condition, Dr Kusak said.

Ther were 3,621 patients still under treatment for Covid-19 at hospitals. 

The new infections raised the accumulated cases to 8,062, of which 95 were from the sandbox scheme.

Phuket has added more beds for infected patients as the number of new cases continues to rise.

Vachira Phuket Hospital director Chalermpong Suthonthaphol said on Thursday the hospital had allocated beds reserved for regular patients to those infected with the coronavirus. 

 

 

Bangkok Post