Seven more COVID-19 patients, most of them with underlying conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension or heart disease, have died, as 1,470 new COVID-19 cases were recorded today. While fewer cases are being found during active screening, in contrast with increased hospital admissions.

The death toll, for just the month of April, has jumped to 16,compared to 67 deaths during the entire first wave of the pandemic, which lasted several months last year, and 27 in the second wave, from mid-December to the end of March.

CCSA spokesman Dr. Taweesin Visanuyothin said that there have been several new clusters of infections in the past five days, with five clusters resulting in 71 infections in the northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima, adding that the super spreader event was a birthday party, at which 47 people became infected.

In Bangkok alone, 447 new cases were recorded today, bringing the total, since the beginning of this month, to 4,475. Nonthaburi has 118 new cases, Chiang Mai 99 and Chon Buri 97.

Regarding the post-vaccination severe side effects, which affected six medical personnel in Rayong province, Dr.Taweesin said that the partial paralysis was related to their vaccinations, but was not linked to any specific batch of the vaccine, and inoculation with Sinovac vaccine will continue.

He cited a report from the World Health Organization about the possible incidence of severe side effects, resembling stroke,among a handful of those inoculated adding, however, that there is no conclusion yet about any link between vaccines and thrombosis (blood clots).

Meanwhile, Dr. Thiravat Hemachudha, chief of the Emerging Infectious Disease Health Science Centre of Chulalongkorn University, said today that the Sinovac vaccine that was used onthe six medical personnel in Rayong, might have beencontaminated during the production or bottling process.

He said, however, that inoculation with the Sinovac vaccine should continue, but those vaccinated must be kept under observation for at least half an hour and remain alert to any post-vaccination side effects, so they can be treated in time if they occur.