At 30,310, Thailand’s cumulative COVID-19 infections have broken the 30,000-mark for the first time, with 405 new cases recorded today (Thursday), most of them linked to entertainment venue clusters.

Of the new cases, 391 are locally-acquired, scattered across 24 provinces. Bangkok tops the list, with 48 new cases among those under observation and treatment and 47 cases found during proactive screening.

Other provinces recording new infections today are:

Samut Prakan, 23

Chiang Mai, 6

Lampang, 1

Chiang R

Phitsanuloke, 4

Ayutthaya, 2

Saraburi, 1

Nonthaburi, 18

Pathum Thani, 8

Nakhon Pathom, 6

Suphan Buri, 2

Samut Sakhon, 9

Chachoengsao, 1

Chon Buri, 14

Sa Kaeo, 14

Rayong, 1

Prachuap Khiri Khan, 14

Khon Kaen

Nong Bua Lamphu, 1

Udon Thani, 7

Buri Ram, 2

Chaiyaphum, 2

Yasothon, 1

Phuket, 3

Nakhon Si Thammarat, 1

Chumphon 3

Songkhla 2

Narathiwat, 146

There are 14 imported cases today, 6 from United Arab Emirates, 2 from Bangladesh and 1 each from India, Malaysia, Switzerland, France, the UK and Turkey.

Cumulative infections, since December 15th, are 26,073, including 7,980 locally acquired cases, 16,690 cases found during proactive screening and 1,402 imported cases. The death toll in that period remains 35.

Meanwhile, Deputy Government Spokesperson Traisulee Traisoranakul insisted that the government is not monopolisingthe acquisition of COVID-19 vaccines and the private sector can procure them, but demand is outstripping supply.

Citing information from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovations, as of April 5th, she said that worldwide advance vaccine bookings now total 9.6 billion doses, because some countries have ordered volumes of vaccines which are 2-3 times greater than their populations,while 658 million doses of vaccines have already been used.

In addition to the AstraZeneca and Sinovac vaccines, Ms.Traisulee said that the government has placed orders for other vaccines, but there is not enough supply to meet demand.

She also explained that, currently, vaccine procurement is for emergency use only, which means that governments must be held accountable if there is something wrong with the vaccines and, therefore, vaccines of all brands are now procured by governments of many countries.

Another important issue, she said, is that the government must make sure that the vaccines are genuine.