Thailand’s new COVID-19 infections rise by 53 [UPDATED]

New COVID-19 infections in Thailand jumped nearly four-fold today (Saturday), compared to yesterday, with 53 being reported. They include 42 illegal foreign immigrants being held at the immigration detention centre in the southern border district of Sadao in Songkhla province.

CCSA spokesman Dr. Taweesin Visanuyothin attributed the sudden increase to active case finding efforts, among the illegal immigrants, by health officials, drawing lessons learned from Singapore, where the second wave of infections was found to be concentrated among foreign workers living in crowded dormitories.

Dr. Taweesin said that most of the infected migrants in Sadao are still healthy and display moderate symptoms adding, however, that X-ray machines will be sent to the detention centre to assist in diagnosis.

He assured that all the migrants, who are mostly from Myanmar with some Vietnamese, Cambodians, Malaysians and Indians, will be given proper treatment in accordance with humanitarian principles.

Today’s new infections bring accumulated cases in Thailand to 2,907. The total number of recoveries now stands at 2,547. The death toll rose by one to 51 today.

There are also 12,071 suspected cases currently under investigation in Bangkok, 4,557 in Yala, 3,652 in Nonthaburi and 2,207 in Chon Buri.

The fatality was that of a 48-year old Thai man, whose four family members were also infected by the virus. He went to see a doctor on April 1^st after developing a fever, cough and headache, but tested negative. He returned home with some medicine, but his condition worsened. He went back to the same hospital on April 12^th, when he tested positive for COVID-19 and was admitted. He died yesterday.

12 provinces have not reported any new infections for 28 days, 35 provinces with no new cases for between 14 and 28 days and seven provinces with no new infections in the past 7 to 14 days. Nine provinces have reported no coronavirus infections at all.

Thailand is now 57th on the world ranking of total number of infections.

For cross-border land transport of cargo, the Thai Transport Ministry has laid down guidelines, requiring all transporters to unload their cargo upon arrival on Thai soil and the drivers to return to their country of origin as quick as possible, without disembarking from their vehicles unnecessarily.

In the opposite direction, Thai truckers must return to Thailand within seven hours of crossing the border, otherwise they will have to enter state quarantine for 14 days.

A total of 198 Thais are due to return from abroad today, including those from Iran and India, and a further 212 are scheduled to fly back tomorrow from Australia. All are required to enter state quarantine for 14 days.