Thailand’s daily new COVID-19 infections surged to an all-time high of 4,887 cases today (Thursday), including 2,835 among inmates in Bangkok’s two main remand prisons, while there were 32 more deaths.
The exponential increase in new infections today was due to the inclusion of 2,835 cases reported among inmates by the Corrections Department yesterday, said the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CSSA) Spokesman Dr. Taweesin Visanuyothin.
Cumulative COVID-19 infections in Thailand, since the first case last year, are 93,794, including 60,615 recoveries and 32,661 who are still being treated in hospitals. Severe cases have soared to 1,209, including 406 who are on ventilators. The total death toll since last year is 518. Cumulative infections since April 1st, the start of the third wave, are 64,931.
Dr. Taweesin attributed the rise in new infections to increased screening, while urging the public to act as the “eyes and ears” of officials by reporting illegal migrant workers and those who help them enter Thailand or hire them, to prevent new clusters and new variants entering the country.
More than 4,000 illegal migrants have been arrested and charged since the beginning of this year, according to immigration police commissioner Pol Lt-Gen Sompong Chingduang.
Regarding the situation in Bangkok, he said infections have not slowed, with cluster infections found in Klong Toey, Pathumwan and Suan Luang districts and the number of severe cases increasing.
Over 6,000 people in Bangkok are currently confined in compulsory home isolation, while 226 others are quarantined in hotels.
Of the 32 deaths today, 26 were male and 6 were female, aged from 38 to 93. 17 were in Bangkok, 3 in Nakhon Ratchasima, 2 each in Pathum Thani and Chiang Mai and 1 each in Surin, Saraburi, Nakhon Pathom, Phayao, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Surat Thani, Phetchaburi and Phuket.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, meanwhile, reported today that 1,146, out of 26,789 people living in the Khlong Toei slum who have been screened since April 12th, tested positive for the disease, representing a 5.34% infection rate. Results on the other 5,349 tests are still pending.
