Thailand has reported a steady drop in new COVID-19 infections for 5 consecutive days, from last Thursday’s 54 to 28 today – the lowest rate for three weeks.
According to CCSA spokesman Dr. Taweesin Visanuyothin, the country’s accumulated infections to date are 2,579, while the death toll has increased by two to 40. 70 more patients have recovered and returned home, bringing total recoveries to 1,288.
Of the 28 new infections, 18 of them are associated with those previously infected, three medical personnel, two were in high-risk occupations, one was a returnee from abroad and another visited a crowded place.
One fatality was a 56-year old Thai man who was in close contact with an infected person. He was admitted to hospital in Samut Prakan province on March 14th with a fever, cough, breathing difficulties and fatigue. His condition deteriorated on March 23rd and he needed a respirator to help him breathe, but he succumbed to the infection yesterday.
The second fatality was a 43-year old diabetic office worker who had chronic kidney disease. He became sick with similar symptoms on March 23rd and was admitted to a hospital on March 31st, where a lung infection was diagnosed on April 5th. He died six days later.
Dr. Taweesin said that Phuket still has the highest infection rate, with 44.03% per 100,000 of the population. Numerically, Bangkok has the highest accumulated infections at 1,306, followed by Phuket’s 182 and Nonthaburi’s 150.
Infections among family members and Thais returning from a pilgrimage to Indonesia account for the largest cluster of new infections, with 61 cases linked to the pilgrimage, said the CCSA spokesman.
He attributed the high infections in Phuket to a delay in screening for the infected, noting that 50% of these cases came forward for tests three days after they had developed symptoms.
His Majesty the King has praised all parties involved in the efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus from the Government, medical personnel and health volunteers to the military, police, local officials, the private sector and the public.
The King offered moral support to all and said that he and Her Majesty the Queen are ready to help if the Government needs anything from them.
Meanwhile, Colonel Sirichan Ngathong, deputy spokeswoman for the army, disclosed that Their Majesties the King and Queen have donated food and essential items, such as face masks, sanitizer gel and medicines, to over 120,000 households in 623 communities in Bangkok since April 5th.
Similar donations have also been provided to rural households through the Crown Prince hospitals.
